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[Music] [Music] let's begin our worship all psalm of david let's it is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord was not in and conspirators see when I my fight album was turned into the drought of some state law I acknowledge my state and my iniquity I have not hidden I said I will confess our [Music] investors we've as Christians in spirited pray God for joy see right say it's righteousness you see you succeed justifying race I see about our righteousness that availables with the righteousness of another to his righteousness we look to his shed blood Great God mortified seeing this morning struggle brothers and sisters who are so afflicted strange we always spiritually laces positive see we were rational sense touch the region good thing to be in the house strengthening our faith that mrs. white so do activate with child others expected this church sir just ask lessons you pray that with university to church the gospel Oh God preaching and false gospel all my scripture to do so ass down see the direction I do mashed Christ those in need has changed afraid have it with us abortion we praise and worship God over spirit to attend to that worship would ask that seats will be edified and strengthened by the elements of worship spirits by your spirit of this morning praise of our precious sea let's stand and sing together larger Trinity and all game number [Music] [Music] turn to our New Testament scripture reading Luke chapter 16 he also said to his disciples there was a certain rich man he had a steward accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods so he called and said to him what is this I we're gonna count in your stewardship then the steward said within himself what shall I do I cannot dig I am ashamed to beg I have resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses so he called every one of his master's debtors to said to the purse how much so he said to him take your bill and sit down then he said to another and how much he said to him take your bill and write eighty so the master excuse me so the master commended the unjust steward because sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation light and I say to you make friends for yourselves by unrighteous and I say to you make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon that when you fail they may receive you into an everlasting home he who is faithful and what is least is faithful also in much therefore if you have not been faithful the unrighteous manner to your trust the true riches and you have not eaten faithful and what is in other means what is your own no servant can serve two masters despise the other you cannot serve God now the Pharisees who were lovers of money also heard all these things and they derided and said to him you are those who justify yourself but God knows your hearts what is highly along the prophets were until John since that time the kingdom of God has been preached that everyone is pressing it is easier for heaven and earth whoever divorces his wife Nerys we'll stop there in Christ I'm no different by and specifically these Jewish religious leaders remark or that being justified the sight of men was something that bore a certain value over and against or even above having truth price repeats off the charging the trial answer with truths you'll answer with cutting responses in order to highlight that God we are not such hard to justify as that last injustice to be reconciled unto God and justified in the sight of God that again right justification that which as true see well our salvation many centuries ago let's stand again [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 2 finishing up Acts chapter 2 today we have seen the outpouring of the Holy Spirit according to verses 1 to 4 which manifested itself in the speaking of other languages and the persons were able to hear the wonderful works of God communicated to them in those languages some however mocked and said that the Apostles the disciples were filled with new or sweet wine so Peter stands up taking that as his occasion and he says that this is what was spoken by the Prophet Joel and then in verse 22 he sets forth the glory of Jesus Christ in his life his death than his resurrection and on the heels of this Peter doesn't simply to simply want to inform their understanding but he calls them to repent and then in verses 40 or rather 41 and following we see their response to Peters sermon last time we looked at verses 41 and 42 our focus this morning will be verses 43 to 47 but I'll begin reading in verse 36 therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do and Peter said to them repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off as many as the Lord our God will call and with many other words he testified and exhorted them saying he's 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 and the breaking of bread and in prayers then fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles now all who believed were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among does anyone have need 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 art praising God and having favor with all the people the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved amen let us pray father we thank you for the written word and we pray now for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit we acknowledge that you are God Most High Father Son and spirit you are from everlasting to everlasting a God who is to be feared and glorified worshipped and loved the god who has in mercy opened our hearts and given us the graces of faith and repentance caused us to see the the glory and the sufficiency in the excellency of Jesus Christ as the one in whom alone there is forgiveness our Father we give all praise to you for that we pray that others would know this grace that others would see Christ is altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 that Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit as well as he works in and through the Word of God today would set forth Jesus to sinner's and that they by grace would come believing on him we ask that you would forgive us now for our sins and our transgressions we pray again for the illumination and the power of the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts and we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well as we look at this particular section the response to Peters sermon as I said it's verses 41 to 47 and we broke it up this way first the power of the gospel is seen in verse 41 and then the practice of the church is seen in verses 42 to 47 notice the power of the gospel in verse 41 then those who gladly received his word we need to understand it's the word reception of the word faith in the word faith and the one revealed in the word namely Christ and His true humanity his life of obedience to the Father his death in the place of sinners and his resurrection the third day we don't enter into this saving relationship based on or because of baptism baptism is a consequence of that those who gladly received his word were baptized remember we saw the consistency of this narrative with reference to the Great Commission in Matthew 28 Jesus says go make disciples of all the nations baptizing them to observe all things that I have commanded you the way of acceptance by God or the way rather to God is not through the waters of baptism or through the Supper no those things are absolutely positively important and we see they are necessary consequences of those who believe the gospel the way to God is through the son the way of appropriating the benefits of the sign is to believe to look unto him to gladly receive his word in the language employed here by Luke in acts 2:41 then those who gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to that not because of their ingenuity not because of the apostolic ministry but because of the power of God that is uppermost and that is paramount and that is foremost in this section remember verse 39 the promises to you and to your children and to all who are far off as many as the Lord our God will call here in verse 41 they were added it's a passive thing God added that we'll see it again in verse 47 and the Lord added to their number it is Christ it is the power of God it is the majesty and the excellence in the supremacy of God that is conspicuous in this section now let's look at the practice of the church in verses 42 to 47 we already recognized or saw their steadfastness this means they continued this means they persevered this means they didn't just do it once and then call it a call it a day one of the things that is absolutely crucial with reference to church life is this idea of steadfastness it is perseverance it's typical and it's easy rather to be a fair-weather fan we only go to church when we feel like it well brethren we go to church because God commands it we go to church because it's all just a legitimate expression of a conquered soul to go into the public place and worship God Almighty we don't live our lives based on what we feel like rather we continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine in fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers we continued steadfastly in those things whether or not we feel like it this is a feeling oriented generation in which we live if I don't feel like doing something I'm not going to do it I'm much more respect gee up regenerations previous to us who did what was right because they were supposed to what happened to that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do we always want accolades for doing what we're supposed to do no it's what you're supposed to do that's why it's called doing what you're supposed to do that's something missing today they continued steadfastly not based on Wham not based on experience not based on feeling not based on what they had for dinner the previous night or if they had gotten enough sleep the previous night but they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine because the Word of God is important they continued steadfastly in fellowship because mutual edification of the Saints is important they commute they continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread visa vie the Lord's Supper because remembering our Lord's death and corporately testifying through bread and wine is absolutely crucial and they continued steadfastly in prayer because they understood that this is a spiritual activity to try to turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ we don't have weapons that are carnal we don't have guns we don't have swords we don't have knives with which to advance the kingdom of Jesus we have the Word of God in prayer and so therefore they prayed they continued steadfastly in these activities because they had been conquered by Sovereign Grace they had continued steadfastly in these activities because those conquered by Sovereign Grace continued steadfastly in these activities it is natural just as the baby arts to breathe when he's when he's out of the womb so does the Christian pray so does the Christian want to be around other Christians so does the Christian show up at church when the church is open that's what believers do brethren and that is manifested and demonstrated here in acts 2 now notice thirdly we've seen the steadfastness we've seen the practice note thirdly the effect upon every soul according to verse 43 it says then fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles now this is a bit ambiguous who's the every soul well certainly it includes the believers because when we come into contact with the living and true God levity and joking and jocularity isn't the order of the day but rather when we come into contact with the living in the true God we say with the Prophet as Isaiah woe is me for I am undone we are like that publican who couldn't even look up into heaven but he beat his breast and prayed God be merciful to me the sinner so fear came upon every soul connected to the work of Christ to be sure but I think it also includes those who weren't saved necessarily those who had not believed the gospel and I think what we ought to infer from this is that the presence of God promotes the fear of God whether you're saved or not maybe this is one of the reasons why the world doesn't take the church seriously because there's no presence of God because we look like the world because their concerts had become our concerts their entertainment has become our entertainment the house of God is no longer a place of fear and trembling and joy but a place of lattes a place of casualness a place of conversational chatting instead of declarative preaching we have become like the world generally speaking a generation ago Martyn lloyd-jones observed that the church lat or rather the world laughs at the church because she's not doing what she's supposed to do the world should be laughing at the church the world should either a hate the church or be at least stand off from the church because God is intermit and there is the fear of God that is pervasive let that sink into you and fear came upon every soul that is a beautiful testimony to the presence of God Most High you want to know that you know the nearness of god you're gonna fear God I mean isn't this the case isn't this what happens is it that we run into the presence of God and we treat him like a fellow we run into the presence of God we treat him as an equal those conquered by the blood of Jesus Christ have their orientation reworked they no longer treat God as a fellow they know they no longer treat God on equal status but they seek God as God not you know essentially but they understand something true of God and it promotes the fear of God in their hearts this is what's taking place and it's no doubt connected to the supernatural phenomena that had been in operation on this day of Pentecost what did they witnessed they had witnessed the presence of God through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit they had witnessed the presence of God through the preaching of the Apostle Peter as he sets forth the supremacy of Jesus Christ they had witnessed the presence of God according to verse 43 be through the wonders and signs that were done by the apostles in other words God was pervasively in the midst of his church and not only did his church fear as a result but the onlookers feared as a result it's like getting close to something that is dangerous you feel fear as a result when you get close to something and I suggest God in this regard is dangerous to the people who are not believers but they feared God notice what the psalmist said in Psalm 89 7 he said God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints and to be held in reverence by all those around in the church rather the world is laughing at us it's probably because there's no fear of God before our eyes if the world sees in us the same thing it sees in itself there is no fear of God in us you see brethren we are to be markedly different we are to be those who conduct themselves as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ fears God now there's a whole host of reasons why we ought to fear God but fundamentally twas grace that taught our hearts to fear that didn't develop with John Newton in his hand amazing grace God through the Prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 32 speaking about New Covenant realities God the Lord says I will put my fear into their hearts in other words when we fear God properly it's because God has given us grace this is the legitimate response of the people of God to the god of the people then fear came upon every soul and then notice the presence of God continues to be manifested through the many wonders and science but note the instrumentality of these wonders and signs they were done through the apostles now not to develop and overly long or overly detailed argument but since the Apostles are gone we are not to be looking for these wonders and signs that's not to say God can't do wonders and signs that's not to say God isn't sovereign that's not to say God doesn't have the power to ring or work miracles in our myths but it is to suggest that we ought not to put any hope or any confidence and any sort of sign and Wonder worker that has a ministry Inc send in your checks and get your signs and wonders do what I say and you will get the very power of God it's to prostate to the very idea of the gifts of God Most High brethren these signs and wonders function for a particular reason it's to authenticate that the man speaking for God is the man speaking for God signs and wonders accompany those eras in biblical history where God is revealing himself to his people signs and wonders as many as there are in Scripture are connected with Moses connected with the prophets connected with Jesus and connected with the Apostles do you know why that is so that God can confirm and authenticate that Moses the prophets Jesus and the Apostles or his men so that when they speak his word you need to listen that's the purpose for wonders and signs it's not to dazzle the masses it's not to make money for the church it is rather to manifest for the hearers that the man speaking is in fact the man of God now that the apostolic ministry has ceased now that the Canon of Scripture is closed now that God no longer communicates to the church in some direct sort of a way he's given us the scripture therefore our search ought not to be for these extraordinary gifts but for the power of God and the preaching of the gospel to save sinners you see our charismatic friends are Pentecostal so say you have such low views of God he can't heal he can't do this he can't do that again the argument isn't that he can't the argument is that he doesn't through the likes of Benny Hinn he does it through apostles and the power of God in saving a sinner is every bit as extraordinary as the power of God in healing a blind man right isn't this the point in the paralytic the men couldn't get into the house for the press because of the multitudes that we're listening to Jesus so they peel away the roof and they lower that paralyzed man down and Jesus first word of testimony two hammers first statement his son your sins are forgiven you I mean that throws everybody in an uproar the Pharisees the scribes I know who does this man think he is only God alone can forgive sins so Jesus asks the simple question what you easier to say sits on your sins are forgiven or take up your mat and walk well it's easier to say both of them really but it really becomes difficult if you tell somebody to take up their bed and walk and they don't it's a bit of an embarrassment if I tell you you know you need you can throw away your glasses and you'll see perfectly fine that's pretty easy to verify whether or not it's the case if you're a paralyzed man and I say get rid of your better take it and take it up and walk it's easy to validate that so Jesus says but that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins he says to the paralytic take up your bed and walk see today many would say wow isn't that great he healed a paralyzed man no it's great he forgave a sinful man the raising up a paralyzed man was the exhibit the confirmation the evidence that the Son of man has power to forgive sins see I would suggest the charismatic sin the Pentecostals in their search for tongues are shooting way too low we're looking for the resurrection of the Dead we're looking for dead sinners sitting under the preaching of the word to be made alive through the power of Jesus Christ our Lord through the working of the Holy Spirit that is glorious that is magnificent and that is wondrous never forget the signs and wonders accompany various epochs in biblical history concerned with the revelation of God's Word now notice we move from the effect upon every soul to the brotherly love of the church verses 44 and 45 their love was seen first of all in together Ness not to sound like a hippie song from the 60s but together Ness is something that should characterize the people of God we should like each other we should want to be around each other we should actually mean it when we sing Psalm 122 I was glad when they said unto me let us go to the house of the Lord not oh I can't stand going there because I have to see those be no there is a togetherness that is manifested in the people of God notice in verse 44 now all who believed were together they liked each other no probably wasn't perfect it probably wasn't seamless it probably wasn't without hindrance and it wasn't without effort but nevertheless they were together this is a good thing the people of God like together Ness the people of God like each other the people of God love each other and the people of God want to share time with each other that's just a simple teaching of our tax notice their love was seen in charitable nests charitable nests they were not only kind in terms of their disposition they were not only loving in terms of their sort of relationship they were charitable in other words they put feet on their their their love notice in verse 44 now all believed were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all as anyone had need now unfortunately this is a passage that gets abused the idea of Christian communism what seems to me fundamentally lacking in any assertion of any type of communism is a failure to recognize and with total depravity so as if man wasn't totally depraved they could all live in a commune but man is totally depraved the pigs will always ascend all animals are created equal except the pigs they're just a little bit better it's an Orwellian reference to anybody who's missing that from Animal Farm start out equality they start out all the same but as time goes on their commandments shrink and the one that declares the Equality of all has been replaced by the Equality of most with the ascendancy of the pigs see there's a fundamental problem in communism and it's a failure to reckon with the sinfulness of man man doesn't get along well together man will always try to abuse his fellow man I'm saying man not man there's some exceptions blessing you know praise God but for the most part to try to construct an economic theory with sinful human beings is a is a is an experiment in falling but but saying that as I have let's go back to the text Christian communism it's it's not taught but just a couple of observations here this charity that they exercise was not coerced by the state it wasn't the Roman Empire that made them do this so certainly we can't extrapolate from Christian communism to sort of a state communism we don't want that that's not the prerogative of the state that's not what they're supposed to do to coerce us to be nice to each other God loves a cheerful Giver even he himself doesn't coerce us that we that's the second thing we ought to appreciate this isn't skate coerced sort of communism or state coerce charity but secondly it's not ecclesiastical coerced charity it's not mandated charity by the church turn to just one text in Acts chapter 5 he say Butler why are you doing this because it's important Calvin highlighting certain ant about test sex that promoted a communistic version of economics among the the societies called in fanatical spirits and I don't think he was being fanatical in that assessment but notice in five four well let's get five one get the whole section before us but a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira his wife sold a possession and he kept back part of the proceeds his wife also being aware of it and brought a certain part and laid it at the Apostles feet but Peter said to Ananias why is the same why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself now note verse four while it remained was it not in your own control why have you conceived this thing in your heart you've not lied to man but to God Peter acknowledges that it was under the control of Ananias it wasn't sacrificed to the state certainly and it wasn't sacrificed to the collective good what's going on in Acts chapter 2 is voluntary compassion it's not state-mandated it's not ecclesiastically mandated but rather it is voluntary compassion so telling us what it's not not advocating we are communists not suggesting that we ought to be communists these are either sort of state or society or Christian that can ecclesiastically but the emphasis is there that they did show kindness to one another they didn't just talk about it they actually demonstrated it they coughed up they co need up their dough they they felt the needs of their brethren and they they ministered unto them notice now all who believed were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and good and goods and and divided or distributed them among law but notice even this as as anyone had need the ungettable inseverable god's never promised societally or ecclesiastically that everybody's going to be the same i mean the greatest anti-communist in the face of the earth has been jesus what does he say the poor you will always have with you now that's Jesus well what's he saying he's not saying it's great to be poor he's not saying you know let's make people poor let's squash people's dream he's not saying that but as a matter of fact within this world's history the poor you will always have so what's the answer the blood-bought children of God seek to alleviate as they're able their brethren in need because they're compelled not because they'll be excommunicated for remember in second Corinthians God loves a cheerful Giver you know brethren we ought to see the beauty and the joy in a beat in being able to help one another with the good gifts that God gives us J Alexander said there is nothing sad of a compulsive renunciation of all individual property Jah Matthew Poole says Christ's gospel does not destroy the law and the eighth commandment is still enforce the eighth commandment protects of course private property and then of course our London confession of faith in chapter 27 of the Fellowship of the Saints which emphasizes and presses the duty and responsibility for the people of God to be benevolent to be generous to be charitable to give up of their own resources to alleviate the suffering of others nevertheless include this because it's absolutely crucial the confession goes on to say nevertheless there caught a communion one with another as Saints does not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man has in his goods and possessions now you might say why belabor that point because if we maintain that it's absolutely essential we are adding to the gospel you must believe and you must give a hundred percent of your Jack you must believe and you must sell your property and give it to the poor you must believe and you must enable yourselves or divest yourself of all worldly goods and give it to others see brethren the Christian Church should the Christian Church cheerfully does the Christian Church engages but never at the wrists at the expense of the eighth word another thing that gets my goat brethren is that when we talk about say political theory and the way that government mismanages finance we're told oh but there's other fish to fry ethical issues isn't the eighth commandment ethical the way that a government both societally or simile and ecclesiastically and privately is it the way that we deal with our funds ethical the government is stealing from us isn't that ethical if the church is stealing from us isn't that ethical yes we affirm and preach against abortion visa vie the sixth word yes we affirm and preach against the the doctrine or the the the sin of sodomy visa vie the seventh commandment but it's equally ethical to preach against sin of theft citing the eighth word well my issues more we ought to be about every issue we ought to seek by the grace of God to prosecute every law of God not picking and not choosing it's important that we remember that we exercise charity because we're blood BOTS Gary North makes this observation he says what people do with their money testify strongly to what they believe what people do with their money testify strongly to what they believe he's also the guy and some will say why are you quoting him because he's written a lot of good things he's also the guy who says at least for America Americans want their religion but they want it cheap maybe the same thing could be said about Canadians but I like what he says with reference to this statement his commentary here on acts what people do with their money testify strongly to what they believe now back in the day we all had those things they they used to call them cheque registers you remember that yet you'd write the date you'd write the check number and then you write the payee and then you'd write the amount and then you'd keep a tally of all that's all online now right but either way we can see where our money goes can't we either way we know where that doremi ends up and I think what North says is right where people spend their money strongly testifies as to what they believe and that's what we need to take away from this this is definitely not a communistic sort of passage I hope that I've blasted that out of anybody's mind or thought but it's certainly a passage that exhort us to charity kindness love togetherness and charitable nets again not wanting to sound like a 60s hippie song sure togetherness and charitable mass now now let's look at finally in terms of the practice of the church steadfastness practice specifically effect upon every soul brethren the love of the church 44 and 45 now notice fifthly and finally with reference to the practice of the church the ongoing conduct of the church and verses 46 to 47 a verses 46 to 47 a and first is their public conduct their public conduct notice in verse 46 so continuing daily with one Accord in the temple the temple is public the temple probably in further implies that they're meeting there together as the corporate people of God to worship God this is what they did this is what they were about they did it daily again I think I mentioned that sort of meant a statement that people say you know - two weeks ago when we looked at this passage well you know the you're a church they gather together every single day and and all we do is have you know three or four meetings a week again my promise stands when we have to meet in here for the 9:30 to 10:30 hour on Sunday when we have to meet in here on the Wednesday night Bible study hour and we do that for a month we'll look at more meetings we'll look at adding adding more meetings my promise to you hopefully my fellow elder and my deacons all agree they were like this and we're not we have a tough time showing up on a Sunday morning and an evening we're one of the few churches left that have an evening service I think it's only the Reformed churches that have an evening service why is that it used to be common place for all churches to have a morning and evening service well pastor Butler there's no text that says thou must meet morning and evening okay you got me but for the history of the church in terms of an application of the sabbath command it was seen as most helpful to have a morning and evening service how do we explain the loss of the evening service I think there's a couple of ways to do it first lazy second just unconcerned third just the care or forth maybe it's because we are not doing what God says again no Romans 17 morning evening gotta be there for that doctrine of the lord's day the lord's day brethren it's not the lord's morning so I would suggest when they continue daily with one Accord in the temple we ought to observe from this a commitment to the things of God and then note their private conduct their private conduct and breaking bread from house to house now earlier we saw in verse 42 there's a reference to breaking of bread there in verse 42 I argue that it's the lord's table because it's in connection with preaching apostolic doctrine it's in connection with fellowship probably these acts of charity they're engaged in and it's connected to prayer here all argue that it's them eating together then having meals together I think the final Clause makes that evident notice in verse 46 and breaking bread from house out house they ate their food I don't think the emphasis here is on sort of the corporate gathering together with reference to the lord's table but again it a further extension of the fact that they like to be with each other the fact that they like one another's company they love to to break bread with one another in each and each people's houses you know they they they spent time together so publicly they went to the temple and they continued in that they had unified public worship in private they got together for mutual edification they got into each other's homes they broke bread from house to house and then notice they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with all the people they continually praised God they shared meals together with gladness and simplicity of heart I I love that language the King James has singleness of heart the NASB has sincerity of heart the idea is is that they were simple not simple tens but simple now I'm gonna press this in a few moments when we get to application but I'm just gonna put a thought in your head right now and as I said we'll pursue it a little bit more in just a few minutes notice the ordinariness of the church in her conduct the ordinariness of the church in her conduct now there's an extraordinary ness in Chapter two the Spirit comes and the disciples speak in other language that's extraordinary to be sure but when Luke comes to describe their response to the gospel they gladly receive the word they were baptized they were added by the Lord to the church they continued steadfastly in the four things at Lucas mansion fear came upon every soul they manifested their love for one another in togetherness and in charitable Ness and then as he describes her ongoing conduct in terms of public life and private life it's very ordinary notice what he does not say they organized into a militia of sorts and they marched against Caesar's Palace they didn't do that they went to the temple to worship when it came to their private meetings what will they do they bur Ito's together and tacos they talked to the Lord they did it with simplicity of heart they did it with gladness they praised God there's an ordinary Ness about acts to that I think again our charismatic and Pentecostal friends miss I don't think the prescriptive part of Acts 2 is seek the gift of tongues the prescriptive act of a part of Acts 2 is continued steadfastly in the things they did and watch as the fear of God comes upon every soul manifest togetherness and charitable charitable this one to another and when you go to the temple worship praise glorified when you get together with one another engage in mutual edification see I think this description in this section is prescriptive for the church this is what we should look like again day has to be a day of worship they're free to do that I would suggest the same day persons are free to go ahead and institute as many times of worship as they want but it's Sabbath worship that is mandated its Sabbath worship that is absolutely commanded it is Sabbath worship that is non-negotiable as well if people want to try to get together and live in such a way that they share and have all things in common I'd simply point you to history I can't think of one example where it ever worked out well I know that doesn't always play in the minds of people well well it'll be different for us okay okay yes but it's never gone well when a group of people want to do that sort of a thing anyways so back to our text they continually praise God and they had favor with all the people now here I take it as those outside the church again notice in verse 47 praising God having favor with all the people of course they'd have favor with one another be superfluous to say that you know we all loved each other because hopefully we do but they had favor with all the people Millard's the on lookers the outsiders the non church people the non-believers they had favor with them how do we explain that with reference to our understanding of God's Word again Alexander says the Jews collectively no doubt with individual exceptions favored them this state of public feeling is remarkable and seems to be recorded on account of the unhappy and inexplicable change which afterwards took place but as yet they enjoyed popular as well as divine favor oh it's at this particular juncture they were received favorably see as I said earlier the church should in some ways hate the world neither should hate the church if the church is doing what she's supposed to do but let him never hate us cuz we're hateable never let him hate us for just cause never let him hate us because we're we're weird I mean they'll always perceive us weird to some degree but but I think Peter speaks to this in fact you can turn to first Peter chapter 4 first Peter chapter four this is basically a theology of suffering a theology of suffering what Peter says is you need to expect it so contrary to the sorts of Christianity we hear you know pedaled in our day oh yeah you're never gonna have any troubles in the Christian life yield it's just gonna be great know you can expect tribulation verse 12 you are to exult in it according to verses 13 and 14 that means rejoice in it rejoice that you're counted worthy to shuts off for shame for the name of Christ but then know thirdly he says you need to evaluate its cause at verse 15 he says but let none of you suffer as a murderer a thief an evildoer or as a busybody in other people's matters yet if anyone suffers as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in this matter so you know there are times where maybe at work you're suffering or persecuted not because you're so godly but because you're so annoying Peter tells you to evaluate the cause upon which you are suffering oh you know nobody in my family likes me because I'm so whole wait well that could be it or you may be a thief or a murderer in which cause you should suffer according to Peter evaluated cause the same thing is true there in acts 2:47 they had favor with all the people this tells us that what they were engaged in was correct it was right this continuing steadfast in these four things this pervasive fear of God going upon every soul this togetherness in charitable nest this emphasis on public worship this emphasis on private sort of private and mutual benefit of one another it's that which promotes in the outsiders a favorable view of what the insiders are doing it's when we're odd dots it's when we're weird it's one more strange it's when we commit sin or we commit crime or we do things that are on toward Matthew Poole says the goodness meekness and patience of the Apostles and the rest of the believers did wonderfully prevail to beget a good opinion of them that's beautiful isn't it we're not courting the good opinion of the world at the same time we don't want to court their hatred and their enmity and animosity unless it's for the cross unless it's for those things that were supposed to be persecuted for let me get that okay I'm just kind of speaking out in the you know the ether here I think that's an important point when you suffer evaluate its cause I could be your glog we could be maybe not and this is what we have to reckon with I realize that's a tough pill to swallow I mean after all we all want to suffer because we're godly but we don't always suffer because we were godly we sometimes suffer because we're not godly and I'm sorry if that hurts you or fans but but that's truth that we need to take in and reckon with and deal with it's not I'm the only one who's ever had I've had to do this why is this happening I'm just so holy in this know typically that's not why because I made some major misstep so I did something foolish I did something that was dishonouring to God I'm getting you know chastised for it we got a deal faithfully honestly but in this instance they had favor withal so there's the practice of the church no finally the power involved in 47b the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved it's a beautiful statement isn't it it's God who adds to the church it's God who is sovereign over these things specifically the second person of the Trinity Christ and his mediatorial office is the Lord here who adds to the church it is Christ who builds this church according to Matthew 16 it is Christ who has the ability to plunder the the kingdom of darkness and the transfer of sinners into the kingdom of the son of God's love it is Christ who builds it is Christ who sustains it is Christ who the fan it is Christ who protects and here specifically Luke tells us this Jesus whom they had crucified is now adding them even to the church it's a beautiful thing Paul highlights this in first Corinthians 3:6 he says I planted Apollo's watered but God gave the increase it's always seemed to me that verse verse first Corinthians 3:6 is the new testament version of proverbs 21 31 the horse is prepared for the day of battle but victory is from Yahweh that beautiful if you were in the Old Covenant and you were getting ready to march into battle and you prepared that horse and you went out there to fight the the Hittites or the Hittites of the parasites of the judging sites and you came back victoriously you knew it wasn't because you prepared that horse although you better prepare that horse but victory is from Norway it's the same thing with reference to gospel ministry one waters another another souls are in one souls and other waters it's it's God who gives the increase it's why on Sunday morning you pray to God God send the spirit God bless the preaching of the word God open ears open hearts cause sinners to receive the truth and God Lord Jesus Christ specifically add to our number such as should be saved it's a beautiful and a wonderful and a glorious thing that we find here in this book of Acts again Matthew Poole says not Peters sermons no nor the miracles of fiery cloven tongues in the rushing mighty wind could have converted any but that which was signified there namely the powerful operation of the Spirit of God in their hearts brethren in conclusion we see the description of the church I just want to run it together once more the proper practice of the church doctrine Fellowship Lord's Supper prayer I think this is where the Reformers got the marks of the church the marks of the church are preaching dis uh sacraments and discipline Belgic confession twenty-nine highlights that and I think they're on the right track as well what second London highlights that Deuteronomy 12 32 tells us and first timothy 3:15 tells us is what's called the regulative principle of worship says the stuff we're supposed to do notice what's not mentioned they had puppet shows they had ponies they had rides in the parking lot they had an ice-cream truck right there in the foyer so everybody could refresh themselves during alongside know the task of the Christian Church when it comes to corporate worship is to read the word preach the word pray the word sing the word and see the word Christian worship is word based this is God's prohibition against the the the Idol making tendency you saw no form on Horeb you didn't see some pur saw personally a personage on that that mount Joe heard his voice you don't take a tool and and carve for yourself an image that that's prohibited 12:32 deuteronomy says we're not supposed to add or take away from the word first timothy 3:15 i write these things why so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God the Church of the Living God which is the pillar and ground of the truth Timothy I'm not suggesting these things for you no more sort of benefit for you I'm telling you there's a divine oddness in how you ought to worship or conduct yourself in the house of God again I think the description in chapter 2 of the Holy Spirit in terms of tongue speaking is not prescribed for us that's not what we are to see but the description in terms of the practice of the church is prescribed this is what we should be about these are the things we ought to be cultivating this approach to God wherein he defines the approach to God it's beautiful argument isn't it God commanded Moses how to build the tabernacle he didn't command Moses you know where to put Moses couch in his own house Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob and he regulates the conduct of God's people in corporate worship such that they do what he says they're supposed to do and other that's one of those other things it's just so simple I don't know we messed it up if I said to my son I want you to take this cup I want you to put it under the water and I want you to rub it with a sponge and then I want you to put it over here so that it would be clean if I went upstairs and I came back down and he was building a card house I would say what happened there was nothing about building a card house he was pretty simple instruction dish water said what have we missed preach pray sing sacraments well what have we miss how do we have ponies how do we have pastors repelling down how do we have you know concerts in the name of public worship or ballet how do we have flag waving in the front of a corporate worship service how did this happen cup water sit not build card houses preach pray sing discipline a baptism Lord's Supper pretty easy isn't it we asked the question God what do you want us to do when we gather together for public worship he answers it he doesn't leave us you know what why just don't know I just can't can't imagine what should we do does anybody at a loss for what we should do it's pretty simple cup water sit not card houses not ponies not puppets not you know ice cream trucks in the middle of the service not you know gimmicks and and and Hawk stirs and and guys that are you know that are cheerleaders rather than preachers of God's holy word what happened to us here as well they had or they knew the presence of God which promoted the fear of God they engaged in togetherness and charitable nests they engaged in gladness and singleness of heart and they were praising God and they were received favorably by the outsiders again that will change that has changed it's not always the case that God fearing Christ exalting biblical churches have favored among them but at this early place in terms of redemptive history the the onlooking unbelieving jews saw what was going on i said wow there's something going on there they're not you know this you know band of renegades or mavericks they had a favorable opinion of them as well I mentioned the ordinariness of the church this text again it doesn't say everything that the New Testament will say in terms of church and worship but I think in broad strokes and highlights for us a good strategy of church life in terms of our public life and in terms of our private life publicly we meet together for worship it's another one of those things well you know cup water said how did we get on all these other things that we're doing individual Christians as individual Christians can do just about anything as long as it's not sin as long as it's not unlawful the church's church is defined the church as church has a specific nation the church as church has a particular delimited calling and she must abide by that and I would suggest that's what we see here continuing daily with one Accord in the temple they gather together for worship they didn't miss the corporate place they didn't neglect the means they utilize those things that God had given to them for his glory and for their well-being you know so many of these substitutes and so many of these additions and so many of these supplements seem to imply or suggest rather that God doesn't know what's best for his people God we know that puppets and ponies and programs they really get people going they really make us feel at one with who we are as God people well then God would have determined that puppets ponies and programs would have their place in his churches but he didn't I guess my point is we're not smarter than God cup water said you imagine the kid saying well you know dad I have a much better way of washing this I mean I just I thought through this and and there's this chemical and there's this process a cup water sit I don't want you to be innovative if I don't want you to be creative I don't want you to just think on your own two feet here I want you to obey me maybe your parent different but that's kind of how we operated in our house we didn't like a lot of backchat in terms of well there's a better way to do that what she's just do it you're supposed to do and yet when it comes to the church which is the house of God the Church of the Living God the pillar in the ground of the truth were all sin but God you know we have a better way no we don't God's ways are tried God's ways are proven even more importantly God's ways are dare I say it commanded and this is what we glean from this section the private meetings of the people of God were for mutual edification again it's not telling us a whole host of other things but this much we can surmise they broke bread from house to house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of art the ordinariness of this it just amazes me we live amongst a generation where it's all extraordinary is what Christians should be aspiring to radical Christianity burning yourself out for Jesus Christianity being the the locust Christian out there Christianity far more of the Bible is committed to ordinary Christianity for everyone Paul there's what millions billions of non poles for every one Calvin in the life of the church there's how many millions or billions of non Galvan's for every Luther you get the logic you know where most of us find our lot in life it's in the ordinary and in the normal and in the routine and in the regular and that is perfectly acceptable you can continue daily with one Accord in the temple break bread from house to house eat your food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with with with all the people and know that God is pleased with you I think that's very important you know we get this idea that I gotta be Amy Carmichael if I'm a girl or a woman I've got to be Paul if I'm a guy I can't you just be who you're supposed to be I thankful we met a young Christian man or talk to I didn't meet him he didn't know what woke Matt if you don't know what woke Matt that's okay but he didn't know that but I know for a fact this young man knows what hard work is and I know for a fact that he knows what tending to a wife is and I know for a fact that he knows what tending to his kids are and I know for a fact that he's got a good ecclesiastical ethic but he's not woke that's the watchword of today that's what you have to be hashtag woke if you're to be any kind of a Christian no hashtag faithful normal ordinary let me turn you to a tax that I don't think gets much play today 1st Thessalonians 4 1st Thessalonians 4 yeah the latter half of the chapter certainly does but there's this little place in verses 9 to 11 I'm sorry 9 to 12 thankfully there has been some some some response to that you know that non-ordinary that extraordinary that burn yourself out that radical Christianity Michael Hortons wrote written a book ordinary the ordinariness of Christianity again something a concept that was accepted for 20 20 centuries people knew they weren't John Calvin and they knew they probably would never be John Calvin so they hold their fields people that knew they weren't CH Spurgeon so they fixed plumbing that's as noble if we get the context or concepts in our heart and mind notice in first current I'm sorry Thessalonians 4 9 but concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia but we urge you brethren that you increase more and more now notice verse 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life to mind your own business and to work with your own hands as we what as we commanded you be normal be ordinary be regular but be faithful at it that's the point and then notice verse 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside and that you may lack nothing or how about this whoo-hooo of us who ever I've ever said I want to know what the will of God for my life is I really want to know what the will of God for my life is that typically means and you know if I may translate Who am I gonna marry where I'm gonna go to school am I gonna make a lot of money this year what kind of a job should I pursue it's not sort of the broad strokes it's this individual you know sort of like God's gonna print out this scan that gives you all your details and and it's handed to you so you can pattern your life according to it what is the will of God for my life well interestingly Paul tells you go back to first Thessalonians 4:3 for this is the will of God your sanctification that you should abstain from sexual immorality that much I know to be the will of God for you and then notice in 1st Thessalonians 5:16 rejoice always pray without ceasing and everything give thanks why for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus fortieth not typically as a pastor and you rehearse this or as a brother and you rehearse this when somebody has this huge you know what is the will of God for me you tell them that is only I know but Who am I gonna marry where am I gonna go to school oh just just do what God says here do the will of God ordinarily normally routinely accept the fact ladies you're probably not going to be Amy Carmichael except the fact brothers you're probably not gonna be the Apostle Paul that's okay be faithful where God has you be diligent where God has you continue in the temple in terms of worship of course church is what I mean now and continue to mutually edify your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ well those are thoughts that I think suggest themselves in a survey of this particular passage but the lasting thought I want to leave with everybody is as I mentioned earlier the entrance into the church the church is described in terms of a practice the church is described in terms of their of her sort of ordinariness and I would suggest the church is described in terms of the the practice of miraculous gifts it's when the Apostles are there as the agents of these miraculous gifts but as well in the larger sort of situation or context it's describing how one enters the church again it's not through baptism it's not through just showing up it's not through just placing yourself on a pew on a Sunday morning at 11 o'clock in a given local expression of a church the way of entrance into the church by the grace of God is shown us in verse 41 those who gladly received his word were baptized in the language of verse 38 after they are cut to the heart after they are convicted of sin what does Peter say to that repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins the way into the church is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that's the means by which persons enter in and it's a blessed and a wonderful and a glorious thing as well it is in response that gladly receiving that word primarily is that word of verses 22 to 36 the word concerning Jesus it is true humanity his life is his earthly ministry a man that Peter will tell us later in acts 10 went around doing what about doing good this Lord Jesus Christ who who took on our humanity who who assumed our humanity for us men and for our salvation this Christ who ultimately was delivered up according to the plan and purpose of God nevertheless these centers were guilty and they were responsible they were the lawless hands that were enacting what had been determined and then as well Christ was buried Christ was raised the third day and Christ ascended on high and so the glad reception of God's Word means specifically with reference to cheese that's what our confession says it speaks about saving faith believing whatever the Bible says but the principle acts of saving faith have respected Jesus that's what you need to hear this morning that's what you need to believe this morning that's the word you gladly receive and when you do by the grace of God believe that word you'll be baptized you're part of the church you come to the supper and you seek by the grace of God to be faithful to be that 1st Thessalonians 4 9 through 12 kind of a guy or girl who does what they're supposed to do for the glory of God it's a beautiful and it's a wonderful thing God doesn't shake the pillars to plant his church God saves a bunch of sinners that that would probably never hang out in any other context brings them together and causes them to do the things he says to do it's a beautiful thing isn't it he didn't send men out with machine guns to make the kingdom of God he didn't send men out with tanks he didn't send them out with f-16s or b-2 bombers he didn't do this by force he did it through cracked pots preaching the gospel the treasure of the gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit who saves sinners those sinners are banded together and those sinners redeemed by grace are seeking to persevere and honor the Lord together I think what we have in acts 2 in terms of a description ought to be prescriptive it ought to be something that all of us as church members as the people of God jealously jealously court well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word and we thank you for this snapshot of the early church and I pray that you would help us as your people to engage our souls and the kinds of things that we see in this passage in this steadfast commitment to the to the the marks of the church as well with may we see and know the presence of God that promotes that fear of God and as well may we exercise together Ness and charitable Ness and may we engage in public worship and private mutual edification of brothers and sisters we ask that you would have mercy upon any and all that do not believe the gospel may today be the day when they gladly receive that word and may they want to be baptized and identified publicly with the triune God we asked that you would go with us now and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well you can turn in your Trinity hymnal to him number seven hymn number seven will stand as we sing together concerning the glory of God from Psalm 72 in hymn number seven [Music] [Music] the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace amen father we ask that you would go with us now we pray that you would bless this day encourage our hearts strengthen us with might and the inner man give us grace to return tonight to worship you in spirit and in truth and go with your people now watch over each and every one and may we know that peace that does surpass all understanding and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen please be seated