Sermon on September 10 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Scripture: Acts 2: 41-47

What is a Christian or a follower of Jesus? What should we expect from a true church that impacts the city?
When the Spirit reigns in your life you will:

1. SOAK YOURSELF IN GOD’S WORD!

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …’ (v42a)

‘Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1,2)

Do you love God’s Word and want more of it?
‘The Bible out-lives, out-loves, out-fits, out-lasts, out-reaches, out-runs, and out-ranks all books. It is faith producing; hope awakening; death destroying, and those who embrace it find forgiveness of sin.’

2. GIVE YOURSELF TO FELLOWSHIP!

‘They devoted themselves to fellowship (koinonia) …’ (v42a)

Baptism is a picture of the fellowship (sharing) that every disciple has with God.
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship (koinonia) with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ’. (1 John 1:9)

Disciples do not learn only from the Bible. There is a learning that comes through giving ourselves to one another (koinonia) in the body of Christ.

‘This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service, if I who make it what it is am filled with these.’

3. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN WORSHIP!

‘They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and to prayer’ (v42b)

True disciples are not too individualized or privatized in their worship. The impact in Jerusalem was the impact of disciples delighting in Jesus together.

Baptism opens the door to community life. Together we want to remember Jesus and worship Him. Together we participate in the Lord’s Supper and praying with the church.

4. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN WITNESSING!

‘..and the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved’ (v47b)

You just have to be who you are in Christ to make a difference. A young Chelsea Young can impact an even younger Julia Young in the backseat of a car during traffic: ‘After our discussion, I repented and personally accepted Christ as my saviour— understanding that Jesus died for my sins, rose from death and who is now preparing a place in heaven for me’.
Salvation is of God alone. But He has chosen to use the fingers of human personalities to change the lives of others.

Remember! ‘… If we had to preach to thousands year after year, and never rescued but one soul, that one soul would be full reward for all our labour – for a soul is of countless price.’ (C.H. Spurgeon).
If the Spirit is at work in your life, you will be changed in all your relationships.
You will relate to the Word – to teaching. You will relate to others in church – to koinonia You will relate to God – through worship. This will turn you outwards to relate to the world – in evangelism.

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Photo credit FreeImages.com/jonathan liedtke