Gerry van der Wende: The Acts Five Church!

The Acts Five Church!
July 15, 2012
Acts 5:12

Introduction

In High School one of my classes was Biology
We did a lot of experiments in discovering how genetics worked
We didn’t kill a fly, but we looked at how different characteristics were carried on down the generations, through the DNA
DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid – I had to check the spelling!
The DNA is a molecule which stores genetic information
We know the expression the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
This is because father and son, mother and daughter, exhibit family characteristics
As an example, someone I know was adopted out when he was 6 months old
His adoptive parents did not allow him to find out about his birth parents
First his adoptive father passed away, then his adoptive mother
He finally was able to put out feelers to find his birth parents
One day he received a call. It was from his half brother
They talked and cried and discovered they had so many things in common
One big one was that they both like long distance running
Eventually he got together with a number of his birth family, and it was amazing to him to see the family resemblances.
It is the same with our relationship with God
As time goes on, we exhibit more and more of God’s family characteristics

Our Acts Five family!

This is right near the start of the book of Acts
They were close to the source, the Day of Pentecost experience
At that time the fledgeling church had been filled with the Spirit, and been sent out to witness to the world
In chapters 3 and 4 we read about the huge impact of a crippled beggar being healed, on the spot!
The church had all things in common, and there was a sense of love and caring in the church
In chapter 5 we read about Ananias and Sapphira who did not share of their worldly goods, but tried to make a show as if they did
God punished them, they died on the spot, while lying to the apostles
Verse 11 says, great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events
This was a warning that God is involved in the doings of the church, and not to take this lightly

Signs and wonders

The church is the body of Christ – it is a metaphor, but there is actually a family relationship between God and the church
1 John 3:1 – How great is the love that the Father has lavished upon us, that we are called the children of God
If we are God’s children, you would expect to see a family resemblance
Jesus came to show us the Father
John 14:6-14
Jesus went about doing good, and healing all who were under the power of the devil – Acts 10:35
So the DNA of the church includes the praying for the sick and casting out demons, and preaching the gospel
Acts five illustrates this
Acts 5:12-16
The church became known in a hurry, because people saw the signs and wonders God was doing in their midst

This takes the power of God

Every Christian is able to pray to God, for healing and for changing of circumstances
But to really be a witness takes the power of God
The Pharisees were amazed at Jesus teaching because he spoke with authority!
The early church is told in Acts 1:8
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth!”
The disciples were told to wait till that power came
The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, and filled the disciples
They had experienced the Holy Spirit before, but now they were filled with power
That is how the early church started with a bang!
Mark 16:20 – Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his Word by the signs that accompanied it

Ministry

If you listened to this today and you want to make things right with your Maker, you want to repent of your sins and you want to follow Jesus the rest of your days, please raise your hand….
And if you listened to this and are hungry for more of God, you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you want to be a strong testimony of the change Jesus makes in your life, please raise your hand…
Those who raised their hands, please come forward to see me now, at the close of the service. We will pray for you, and you will receive the desire of your heart.

Gerry van der Wende