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TheBirthdayoftheChurch
Series:WheretheActionIs Author:RayC.Stedman

ReadtheScripture:Acts1:152:4

Contemporaryviewsofthechurchtodayareanythingbutcomplimentary.Oneofthenicer
thingssaidaboutthechurchisthatitisirrelevantasfarassayinganythingtotoday'sworldis
concerned.

Therearemanywholookuponthechurchasnothingbutacollectionofreligiouscreepswho
arecolorless,sterile,anddull,andwhocometochurchonlytositwithblankstaresontheir
faces.Theyhavenolifetothematall.Theyremindmeoftheremarkbythepaganphilosopher,
Nietzsche:"IfyouwantmetobelieveinyourRedeemer,thenyou'llhavetolookalotmore
redeemed."Othersthinkofthechurchasagroupofreligiousbureaucratswhoareforever
issuingpronouncementstowhichnoonepaysanyattention.

Somethinkofitasagroupofplastichypocriteswhoareforevertryingtoplaywaterboytothe
gameoflifewheneverrealissuesarefacedthechurchistheretosay,"Metoo."Someviewthe
churchasagroupof"goodtimeCharlies"whoneverhaveaseriousthoughtandarelittle
concernedaboutlife.Theydonotcareenougheventogettheirhandsdirty.Iknowaformer
hippie(nowaChristian)whoresistedacceptingJesusChristforyearsbecausehethoughthe
alsohadtobuyPatBoone.

Inallhonesty,wedohavetoadmitthatthechurchhasoftenbeenguiltyofthesethings.There
ismuchjustificationforthesecharges.Buttheyaretrueonlybecausethechurchsoeasily
forgetswhatitreallyis.Whenthechurchactsaswhatitreallyisthenitisnotlikethese
distortedviewsatall.Thechurch,operatingasitwasintendedtooperate,isthemostimportant
bodyofpeopleinanyagefaraboveandbeyondanythingelse.Itisactuallythesecret
governmentofearth.Itradicallyaltersthestatusquowhereveritisfound.AsPaultheapostle
says,itis"...thepillarandthegroundofthetruth"(1Timothy3:15KJV),i.e.,thesourceand
supportofallrealisticknowledgeoflife.Thatiswhatthechurchissupposedtobe.

InourpresentstudyofthebookofActs,weareprivilegedtobecomeeyewitnessesofthebirth
andgrowthofthisamazingphenomenonwhichisstillpresentinthetwentiethcentury.InPaul's
lettertotheEphesiansheemploystwosymbolsforthechurch,twomajorfigures,thathelpusin
understandingwhatthechurchislike.Attheendofthefirstchapterhesaysthatthechurchisa
body.HespeaksofJesusChristas"theheadoverallthingsforthechurch,whichishisbody,
thefullnessofhimwhofillsallinall."(Ephesians1:2223RSV).Sothechurchisaliving
organismitispartofthelifeofJesusChristpresentonthisearth.Atthecloseofthesecond
chapter,theapostlesaysthechurchislikeabuilding"membersofthehouseholdofGod,built
uponthefoundationoftheapostlesandprophets,whichgrowsintoaholytempledesignedby
theSpiritforthehabitationofGod..."(Ephesians2:19b22RSV).So,insomesense,thechurch
islikeabuildinginotherwaysitislikeabody.Buttherearecertainthingsincommontoboth
thoseideas:Abuildingisinhabitedbyaperson,andabodyalsoisinhabitedbyaperson.The
centralthingaboutthechurchthereforeisitsrelationshiptoaPerson.

ThatiswhatweshallseedevelopinginthebookofActs.Thesetwofiguresofthechurch,(a
buildingandabody)aregoingtohelpusnowasweconsidertheclosingportionofchapterone,
alongwiththefirstfourversesofchaptertwo.Inthelastpartofchapteronethefoundationis
laidforthebuildinginthefirstpartofchaptertwoisrecordedthebirthofthebody.Thesceneis
setforusinVerses1516ofChapter1:

InthosedaysPeterstoodupamongthebrethren(thecompanyofpersonswasinall
aboutahundredandtwenty),andsaid,"Brethren,thescripturehadtobefulfilled,
whichtheHolySpiritspokebeforehandbythemouthofDavid,concerningJudas
whowasguidetothosewhoarrestedJesus."(Acts1:1516RSV)

ForyearsIbelievedthatthesehundredandtwentybelieversmetintheupperroom,andthat
theHolySpiritcameuponthemthere.Butnoticethatthereisabreakhere.Theprevious
paragraphdoesmentiontheupperroom,butthatispartoftheintroductiontothebookofActs.
TheintroductionendsatVerse14,and,atVerse15,Dr.Lukestartstotellhisstory.Ifyoulink
Verse15withthelastverseoftheGospelofLuke,youwillseeclearlywhereLuketakesuphis
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narrativeagain.IntheGospel,LuketellsusthatthedisciplescamebackfromtheMountof
OlivesaftertheascensionofJesusandcontinuedmeetinginthecourtsofthetemple.Thatis
wherethisPentecostaleventoccurred.Theseonehundredandtwentypeopleweremuchtoo
largeagrouptomeetinanupperroom.Theyarenowgatheredinthecourtsofthetemple,
probablyinSolomon'sPorch,anditistherethistakesplace.

Now,theconcernofPeteristhattherebeareplacementforJudasintheapostolicband.Judas
hadfallenfromhisplaceasanapostlebyhisbetrayaloftheLordJesus,andPeternowfeels
impelledbytheSpirittoreplaceJudas.WehavealreadyseenfromPaul'sletterthatthechurch
islikeabuilding,andthatbuilding,saystheApostlePaul,is"builtuponthefoundationofthe
apostles,"(Ephesians2:20).Therefore,itisnotsurprisingthatthefirstthingwereadaboutin
thebookofActsisthecompletingofthebandoftheapostles.Theremustbetwelveapostles.
InthebookoftheRevelation,JohnseesthecityofGodcomingdownoutofheaven,(a
beautifulpictureofthismagnificentchurch),portrayedasacity.Thereisawallaroundit,with
twelvegatesandthenamesofthegatesarethenamesofthetwelvetribesofIsrael.Clearly
Israelislinkedtothisnewcity.Thewallalsohastwelvefoundationsandthenamesofeachof
thefoundationsarethenamesoftheapostlesoftheLamb.Sotheremustbetwelveapostles.
TherearesomewhothinkthattheApostlePaulshouldbecountedamongthesetwelve.But
Paulhimselfneversaysthat.Heneverlinkshimselfwiththetwelve.Thoughhewasagenuine
apostle,yethewasnotoneoftheTwelve.PetermakesclearthattheScriptureshadpredicted
therewouldbeareplacementofJudas,andhequotesforustwoofthepsalmstoprovethis.In
Verse20,hesays:

"ForitiswritteninthebookofPsalms,
'lethishabitationbecomedesolate,
andlettherebenoonetoliveinit'[Psalm69]
and
'Hisofficeletanothertake.'"[Psalm109](Acts1:20RSV)

ThisgivesusaclueastowhatthesedisciplesweredoingduringthetendayperiodafterJesus
hadascendedintoheavenandwhiletheywerewaitingfortheHolySpirittheywerestudying
theScriptures!TheywereporingthroughtheOldTestamenttoseewhatwaspredictedfor
thesedays.TheydiscoveredthattheScriptureshadpredictedtheremustbeareplacementfor
Judas.SoPeter,ledbytheHolySpirit,standsupandannouncesthattheymustreplaceJudas
intheapostolicband.Wearealsogivenaglimpse,inthisparentheticalverse,ofthetragicend
ofJudas.Welearnhowheforfeitedhisapostolicposition,

"Forhewasnumberedamongus,andwasallottedhisshareintheministry.(Now
thismanboughtafieldwiththerewardofhiswickednessandfallingheadlonghe
burstopeninthemiddleandallhisbowelsgushedout.Anditbecameknowntoall
theinhabitantsofJerusalem,sothatthefieldwascalledintheirlanguageAkeldama,
thatis,FieldofBlood.)"(Acts1:1719RSV)

Thereisgatheredupforushereaconciseandencapsulatedsummaryofallthathappenedto
Judasinhislastmoments.Whenitsaysthatheboughtafieldwiththerewardofhis
wickedness,itdoesnotmeanthathetookthethirtypiecesofsilverforwhichhebetrayedthe
Lord,andwentoutandboughtafield.WeknowfromtheGospelsthathetookthosethirty
piecesofsilverandthrewthemdownatthefeetofthehighpriest,refusingtohaveanythingto
dowiththem.TheninwhatwaywasthisScripturefulfilled?Ifweputtogetherallthereferences
toJudasintheGospelsweshalllearnwhathappened.

WearetoldthatJudaswasthetreasurerofthedisciples.HewasappointedsobyJesus.Luke
tellsus"heborethebag"(John12:6,13:29),i.e.,hecarriedthecommontreasury.ButLuke
alsotellsusthathewasathief,andthathekeptstealingmoneyoutofthiscommontreasury.
Whatfor?Well,evidentlyJudashadacceptedtheideathatwascurrentamongtheJewsthat,
whenMessiahcame,hewouldoverthrowtheRomangovernmentandestablishakingdomof
powerandauthority,withIsraelatthehead.Judaswasfeatheringhisnestinanticipationofthis
event.Hehadalreadypickedaplotofgroundonwhichhewantedtobuildalovelyhome,and
hewasbuyingitlittlebylittlewiththemoneythathestolefromthebag.Whetherhewas
makingpaymentsonit,(andthiswasthefirstappearanceofinstallmentplanbuying,anditis
interestingthatJudaswastheonewhowouldtakeadvantageofit)orwhetherhewassimply

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savingitupinordertogiveacashpaymentattheend,wearenottold.But,nevertheless,this
islikelywhathewasdoing.

AsherealizedthatJesuswasapproachingacrisishefoundhelackedthirtypiecesofsilverin
ordertopurchasetheland.SohemadearrangementswiththehighpriesttobetraytheLordfor
thosethirtypieces.But,whenhedidthedeed,andledthesoldierstothegardenof
Gethsemane,andkissedJesustobetrayhimtothesoldiers,hiseyesapparentlywereopened
totheterribleimplicationsofwhathehaddone,and,wrenchedwithremorseandinanagonyof
conscience,hetookthemoneybacktothehighpriestsandthrewitattheirfeetsaying,
"Behold,Ihavebetrayedinnocentblood..."(Matthew27:35).Thenhewentoutandhanged
himself.Hangingthere,ontheverygroundthathehadhopedtobuyforhishome,hisbody
bloatedandswelledtilltheropebrokeandhefellheadlong,asthisScripturesays,andhis
bowelsgushedout.Thenthehighprieststookthethirtypiecesofsilverandfinishedpayingfor
theproperty.TheyboughtitfromapotterandthuswasfulfilledZechariah'spredictionthatthis
moneyforwhichJesuswouldbebetrayed(Zechariahactuallyhadpredicteditwouldbe30
piecesofsilver)wouldbegiventothepotter.Yetbecauseitwasthesceneofthesuicideof
Judas,aplacemarkedbythebloodofaguiltyman,theycalledit"theFieldofBlood."Tothis
dayyoucanvisititinJerusalem.ThatwasthetragedyofJudas.

Nowhemustbereplacedinorderthatthechurchmightbebuiltupontheapostles.The
qualificationsnecessarytothatreplacementaregiven:

"SooneofthemenwhohaveaccompaniedusduringallthetimethattheLord
Jesuswentinandoutamongus,beginningfromthebaptismofJohnuntiltheday
whenhewastakenupfromusoneofthesemenmustbecomewithusawitness
tohisresurrection."(Acts1:2122RSV)

Therewereonlytwoqualifications:Themanhadtobeonewhowastherefromthevery
beginning,fromthebaptismofJohn,andhehadtohaveaccompaniedJesusallthroughhis
ministry.ThereweremanymorethantwelvediscipleswhowentaroundwithJesus.Hechose
twelveofthemtobeinaspecialrelationshiptohim,buttherewereothersalsowho
accompaniedhim.Outofthatlargerbandtheremustbeonechosenwhohadbeentherethe
wholetimeandsaweverythingJesusdid.Furthermore,hehadtohavewitnessedtheLord's
appearancesaftertheresurrection.Hehadtogivewitnesstotheauthenticityofthe
resurrection.

Whytheserequirements?Well,theyunderscorewhattheNewTestamentisforevertellingus,
thatourfaithisnotbaseduponmyths,orlegendsitisbaseduponfacts,events,whichmen
haveseen,felt,heard,andbeeninvolvedin.Thisisnota"holyhistory,"aheilegeschichteas
thetheologiansliketocallit,akindofpseudohistorywhichtakesplaceonlyintherealmof
ideasbutnotevents.No,no!Thesethingsactuallyhappened,andourfaithrestsuponthefact
thattheyhappened.Thereforetheapostlechosenmustbeonewhowasthere,andsawthem,
andcouldgivewitnessthatthesethingsweretrue.

Nowthechoosingtookplaceinaninterestingway.

Andtheyputforwardtwo,JosephcalledBarsabbaswhowassurnamedJustus,and
Matthias.Andtheyprayedandsaid,"Lord,whoknowesttheheartsofallmen,show
whichoneofthesetwothouhastchosentotaketheplaceinthisministryand
apostleshipfromwhichJudasturnedaside,togotohisownplace."Andtheycast
lotsforthem,andthelotfellonMatthiasandhewasenrolledwiththeeleven
apostles.(Acts1:2326RSV)

Evidentlytherewereonlytwoadditionalmenoutofthatbandofonehundredandtwentywho
werequalifiedforthistask.OnlytwohadbeentherethewholetimeandhadalsoseenJesus
aftertheresurrection.Sothesetwomenwereputforward.Theothershadtodecidebetween
thetwoofthem,andtheydiditintheOldTestamentway:Theycastlotsforthem.Thisisvery
muchakintowhatwedoinflippingacoin.Theymayhaveliterallyusedacoin,andcastfor
headsortails.Itcameupheads,andMatthiaswon.Theycalleditcastinglots,thoughwemight
callitshakingdice.

Nowdonotmisunderstand.Thiswasnotacasinoatmospherethiswasadignified
performance.Itwasusedtodecideonlywhenmenwereotherwisequalifiedandequal.It
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indicatesarecognitionthatGodisineventhesmallestthings.ThatiswhythebookofProverbs
saysinChapter16,Verse33,"Thelotiscastintothelap,butthedecisioniswhollyfromthe
Lord."

Itisnotwrongtoflipacoinortocastlotswhenitisamatteroftwothingsbeingequalinvalue.
Wearetoexercisediscernmentandjudgmentinotherareas,buthereweretwomenequally
qualified,sotheychosethembythecastingoflots.ThelotfellonMatthiasandhewas
numberedwiththeeleven,i.e.,hebecamethetwelfthapostle.Thefactthathewasacceptedby
theearlychurchwithnoquestionsraised,andwasagenuineapostleisindicatedbyasubtle
changewhichoccursfromhereoninActs.Uptothispointtheapostlesarecalled"theeleven"
butfromhereontheyarecalledagain"thetwelve,"sothatitisclearMatthiaswasaccepted
amongthemandwasagenuineapostle.

NowwiththechoosingofMatthiasthegroundwaslaidforthechurchtobebuilt.Thefoundation
ispoured,alltheapostlesarethere.Thesemightyapostlesweremenwhocouldgivewitnessto
thehistoricfoundationofChristianity.Theyweresentforthwithathreefoldtask:

Theyweretobepioneers,goingoutwherethenameofJesushadneverbeennamed,and
plantingchurchesthere.Everyoneoftheapostlesfulfilledthattask.Churchhistorytellsusthat
ThomaswenttoIndia,PeterwenttoEurope(aswellasPaul),andotherstoNorthAfrica.So
theseapostlesbecamethepioneersoffaithbywhichthegroundofthechurchwaslaid.

ThentheScripturesweregivenbythem,orbythoseintimatelyassociatedwiththem.Thisisthe
foundationuponwhichthewholechurchmustrest.Theyweretheretobeproclaimersnot
onlypioneers,butproclaimers.TheyutteredwhatGodsaid.RememberJesussaidtohis
disciples,"Ihaveyetmanythingstosayuntoyou,butyoucannotbearthemyet,"(John15:12).
Now,heneversaidthose"manythings"inthedaysofhisflesh.Hiswordsconcerningthem
wereutteredjustbeforethecross.Whendidhesaythese"manythings"untothem?Itwasafter
theHolySpiritcameandtaughtthesemenGod'smind.Thatiswhytheseapostleshave
authority.Whentheyspeaktheyarenotspeakingasmeremen,but,asPaulsays,"Theword
whichcameuntoyouthroughuscamenotasthewordofmenbutasitisindeedthewordof
God,"(1Timothy2:13).Theywereproclaimers.

Finally,theywerepatterns.TheywereintendedtobeexamplesofhowtheSpiritofGod
operatesthroughmen,howGodpenetratesacommunity,howhemovestochangehispeople
andtransformthem.TheyweretobeexamplesandpatternsofwhataChristianoughttobe.
Theydidnotlivefaraboveustheyareonthesamelevelwithus.Wearetolivelikethe
apostleslivedineveryway.Itisthusthesemenformthefoundationofthechurch.Now,aswe
turntoChapter2,wefindthatthefigureischanged.Herethechurchisnolongerabuilding,but
abody.Hereinthisexcitingchapterwehavethestoryofthebirthofthecorporatebodyof
JesusChrist.

WhenthedayofPentecosthadcome,theywerealltogetherinoneplace.And
suddenlyasoundcamefromheavenliketherushofamightywind,anditfilledall
thehousewheretheyweresitting.Andthereappearedtothemtonguesasoffire,
distributedandrestingoneachoneofthem.AndtheywereallfilledwiththeHoly
Spiritandbegantospeakinothertongues,astheSpiritgavethemutterance.(Acts
2:14RSV)

Thispassagehasbeensubjectedtomuchexamination,butalsomuchabuseanddistortion.
Weneedtolookverycarefullyatit.HereisthestoryofthebirthofthebodyofJesusChrist,the
church.Therearethreethingsinthispassagewhichcallforattention.Ishallreservetillnext
Sundayamoredetailedstudyintothesubjectoftongueswhichwillcomebeforeusaswego
furtherintothechapter.ButforthepresentIwantonlytocommentonthreethings:

First,acommentonthedayonwhichthisoccurred.Donotmissthis.Itwasonthedayof
Pentecost.Well,whatisPentecost?PentecostisaGreekwordthatmeans"fifty."Thedaywas
calledthatbecauseitwasfiftydaysafterthePassoverfeast.PentecostmeantaJewishfeast
whichisgiventousintheOldTestamentunderthetitle,theFeastofWeeks,i.e.,sevenweeks
weretobenumberedfromPassover,orfortyninedaysthenonthefiftiethdaytheywereto
havetheFeastofWeeks,oritiscalledalsotheFeastoftheWaveLoavesbecauseitconsisted
oftwoloavesofbreadthatwerebakedofgrainfromthenewharvest.Pentecostcameatthe

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endofthewheatharvestinPalestine,andtheyweretotakethisnewwheat,freshlyharvested,
thefirstfruitsoftheharvest,andbakeofittwoloaves.

Now,thesearehighlysymbolical.ItallshowshowtheNewTestamenthasitsrootsintheOld.
Thesetwoloavesweresymbolsofthetwobodiesfromwhichthechurchwastobeformed:the
JewsandtheGentiles.JesussaidhecamefirsttothelostsheepofthehouseoftheIsrael,the
Jews.Buthesaid,"OthersheephaveIwhicharenotofthisfoldthemalsomustIbringthat
theremaybeoneflock,"John10:16).HewasreferringtotheGentiles.Here,onthedayof
Pentecost,GodtooktheJewsandtheGentilesandbroughtthemtogetherandbaptizedthem
intoone.

Furthermore,theseloavesoftheOldTestamentweretobebakedwithleaven.Leavenisyeast,
andisasymbolofsin.ThewaveloavesistheonlysacrificeinalltheOldTestamentthatever
hadleavenincludedinit.Why?Well,itisGod'swonderfulwayoftellingusthatthechurchis
notmadeupofperfectpeople.Itismadeupofsaints,buttheyaresinfulsaints.Theyyethave
sininthem.Itisnotmadeupofthosewhohavereachedperfection,butofthosewhoareinthe
processofbecomingwhatGodwantsthemtobe,whohaveadivineauthorityandlifeatwork
withinthemchangingthem.Thustheloavesarebakedwithleaven.

Nowinthatbeautifulsymbolismliestheheartofthechurch.OnthedayofPentecost,rightin
linewiththisOldTestamentprediction,theHolySpiritcame.Andwhatdidhedo?Asweare
toldhere,hetookonehundredandtwentypeoplewhoweregatheredtogetherintooneplace,
andmadeoneoutofthem.Herewereonehundredandtwentyisolatedindividualswhohad
beenlivingtheirlivesquiteseparately,heldtogetheronlybyamutualinterestinJesusChrist.
ButnowtheyarebaptizedbytheSpiritintoonebody.ThatisthefulfillmentofJesus'promise
that,whentheHolySpiritwouldcome,theywouldbebaptizedbytheHolySpirit.Thebaptism
oftheHolySpirithasnothingtodowithanyoutwarddemonstration.Itisnotnecessarily
associatedwithtongues,orfire,orwind.Theseweretheincidentals.Theessentialwasthe
makingofabody,onebody.Thiswasthebirthdayofthechurch.

WhenJesuswasborninBethlehemofJudea,therecameshepherdsandwisemen,andthere
wereangelsandastar.Butallthesethingshappenedonlyonce.Theyneveroccurredagain.
Sothewind,thefire,andthetonguesonlyoccurtogetheronceinScripture.Itisfoolishtowant
alwaystohavetheseincidentalsoccurringwhentheHolySpiritactstoday.Theseare
connectedonlywiththebeginningofthebody.TheonlytimeintheScripturethatwefindthe
phrase,"baptizedwiththeSpirit"afterthiseventisinFirstCorinthians12:13.TheretheApostle
Paulsays,

ForbyoneSpiritwewereall,baptizedintoonebody(1Corinthians12:13RSV)

ThatisthetruebaptismoftheHolySpirit.Itwasnothingfelt,therewasnosignofit,nooutward
evidence,buttheyallbecameone.AndfromthenontheywerepartofthelifeofJesusChrist
andmembersoneofanother.Whatwouldhappentoonewouldaffecttheothersfromthenon.
Theycouldnotbeseparated,theycouldnotlivetheirlivesinisolationanylongertheywere
onebody.

Nowassociatedwiththiseventarethesesymbols.Therewasthesoundoftherushofamighty
wind,therewastheappearanceoftonguesoffiredancingontheheadofeachindividual,and
therewasthestrangephenomenonoflanguagesspokenbymenwhohadneverlearnedthem
tongues.Whatisthemeaningofthesesymbols?Theyarethekeytothefunctionofthebody.
ThisisGod'spictorialwayoftellinguswhatthisbodyisgoingtodo,andhowitisto
characterized.

Thefirstthingiswind:"...suddenlyasoundcamefromheavenliketherushofamightywind,
anditfilledallthehousewheretheyweresitting."Windisthesymbolofinvisiblepower.
RememberthatJesussaidtoNicodemus,hethatisbornoftheSpiritislikethewindwhich
blowswhereveritdesiresandnomancantellwhereitcomesfromorwhereitwillgo(John
3:8).Itissovereign,mighty,powerful,irresistible,invincible.Butitisalsoinvisible,youcannot
seeit.Andthisistobeacharacteristicofthechurch.Itistobeabandofmenandwomen
boundtogetherbythelifeofJesusChristwho,whentheyoperateintheinvisiblepowerofthe
Spirit,willaccomplishgreatthings.Youcannotputyourfingerontheirsourceofpower.Itisnot
spectacularpoweritisquiet.Itisresurrectionpower,aswesaidlastweek,whichdoesnot

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needpropsofanykind,andcannotbestoppedinitsoperation.Itismightyandmovesto
changeandtransform.

Thesecondsymbolwasfire.FireisusedintwowaysintheOldTestament.Itisthatwhich
purifies,whichburnsupdross,garbageandwaste,andthuspurifiesanditisusedasasymbol
forenthusiasm,passion,purpose,ahungerwithin.Jeremiahsays,"AsIwasmusing,thefire
burned."Thesetwosymbolsindicatethatthechurchistobecharacterizedbypurifyingpassion.
ThereistobewithinitastrangehungerforGodwhichwillpurifythelivesofthosewhoare
affectedbyit.

ManyofuswerechallengedanewlastnightasEthelBarrettrelatedthestoryofD.L.Moody
walkingdownastreetinNewYorkCityandthinkingaboutasentencehehadheard"Theworld
hasyettoseewhatGodcandowithamanwhoiswhollyyieldeduntohim."Therecameinto
hisheartagreathunger,andhecriedout,"OGod,makemethatman!"Hewassofilledwitha
senseoftheoverwhelmingloveofGodthathehadtogotoafriend'shousenearby,andaskfor
theuseofaroom.Hewentintothatroomandforanhourormorewascaughtupbythis
purifyingpassion.Thatwasnotasingleexperiencethatwasbutamanifestationofpassionthat
enteredMoody'sheartwhenhebecameconvertedandwhichbrokeoutfromtimetotimewith
tremendouspowertocleansetheevilsofhislifeandtomovehimtowardaunifyingpurpose,a
relentlessdrivetoasinglegoal.

ThatiswhatLukeistalkingabouthere.WhenJohntheBaptistpredictedthatJesuswould
comeandbaptizewiththeHolySpiritandwithfire,hemeantthattherewouldbean
unexplainablepassionaboutthechurch.EveryChristianhasfeltit.Wesingofitthus.

OLovethatwiltnotletmego,
IrestmywearysoulinThee
IgiveTheebackthelifeIowe,
ThatinThineoceandepthsitsflow
Mayricher,fullerbe.

Thethirdsymbolwastheuseoftongues.Certainlythiswasnotgibberish,theywerenot
strangefancifullanguagesthesewereknownlanguages,spokeninthatveryregionaswellas
inotherplacesoftheearth.Thosewhowerethereunderstoodthem.Theywere,therefore,
edifyingproclamations,i.e.,theyinstructed,theywereintelligentutterancesonthepartofthese
men.TheywerepraisingGodwiththeselanguages,andthemenaroundheardthemtelling
forththemightyworksofGod.

NowthatisthepurposeofthefillingoftheSpirit.Itisalwaystoenableustospeakwith
boldness,clarity,sincerityandearnestness,tellingforththemightyworksofGodinlanguages
thatareknown.Thereisamiraclehere,noquestionaboutit,andnextSundaywewillgointo
thenatureandcharacterofthismiraclemorefully.Buttheimportantpointisthatthesemenand
womenwereseizedbytheHolySpiritandfilleduntoutterance,untoproclamation.Several
timesinthissamebookofActswewillfindthatitsaysthediscipleswerefilledwiththeHoly
Spirit.Buttheydidnotthenspeakinotherlanguages,theyspokeintheirownlanguage.Butit
wasalwaysuntoutterance.Theywerefilledthattheymightspeak."FilledwiththeHolySpirit,
theyspoke..."(Acts4:31,19:6).ThatiswhatthefillingoftheSpiritisfor.ItisthatChristians
mightspeakwithboldness,clarityandunctionbutnotalwaysintongues.

Nowtherearesymbolsofthechurch.Hereiswhatthechurchmustbetoday.Itiswhatithas
beeninanyagewhenithasbeenwhatitoughttobe.Itistobefilledwithpower,passionand
proclamation.ItisexcitingtodaytoseetheLordrevivinghischurch.Alloverthiscountry,and
aroundtheworld,therearebreakingoutsuchmanifestationsagain.Theyarenotspectacular,
miraculousdemonstrations,butoutbreaksofresistlesspower,likeamightywindblowingno
manknowswhere:Leadingoutintonewventures,newmethods,newapproachesfillingmen
withapassionandhungerforGodandrealitywhichconsumesthedross,thegarbageand
wasteofourlivesandsettingmentospeakingtoothersaboutthegloriousrealityofaGodwho
liveswithin,whoismightyandadequateinallthathedoes.Thatisthechurch.Whatanexciting
thingitistobeamemberofit!

Prayer:

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Father,wearesooftenconfusedandmixedup.Weseethingswhicharesuperficial,
extraneousandmechanical,andwetakethemtobetherealthing.Wedonoteven
understandverymuchaboutourselves,butwethankyouforyourwordwhich
clarifies,whichopensoureyestomakeusseethingsthewaytheyare.Helpus,
then,tounderstandyourchurch,andourpartinitasmembersofthesamebody,
stonesinthesamewonderfulbuilding.WethankyouinJesus'name,Amen.

Title: TheBirthdayoftheChurch Author: RayC.Stedman

Series: WheretheActionIs Date: February15,1970

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www.RayStedman.org
Messagetranscriptandrecording1970,1995byRayStedmanMinistries,ownerofsolecopyrightbyassignmentfrom
theauthor.Forpermissiontousethiscontent,pleasereviewwww.RayStedman.org/permissions.Subjecttopermissions
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