Soil: God’s Presence in the Community by the Spirit

Acts 2:1-4, 42-47 - Soil: God’s Presence in the Community by the Spirit

Introduction

Think with me for a moment about your last family reunion. I’m not just talking about a small one with a few of your close relatives that you enjoy being around, but all of them…the in-laws and the outlaws. The ones who have it together and the ones that don’t. Think of the whole event, including the arguments over politics and religion. When was the last time you were at one that didn’t have problems? Now imagine a family reunion of 3,000 where everyone is of one heart and mind, where love abounds. Does this sound impossible? Well, it isn’t when the Holy Spirit is there.

Today we are going to see that just like trees need good soil in order to grow and multiply, disciples of Jesus need a good community to follow Jesus and make new followers of Jesus. The soil they need is God’s presence in the church through the Holy Spirit, which produces four rhythms: learning to obey God’s word, worshipping God together, living life together, and living dependent upon God.

The series

The fruit of a true disciple of Christ is a life that follows Jesus by loving God, loving others, and making disciples. Today we are going to see that in order to multiply, God’s church needs good soil. That soil is God’s very presence in the church through his Holy Spirit. His presence creates a community that lives out four rhythms: learning to obey God’s word, worshipping God together, living life together, and living dependent upon God.

Background

Jesus, just like he prophesied, died, rose again on the third day, and ascended to heaven. But, before he ascended to heaven, he told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father, the sending of the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, Jesus would empower them to spread the gospel to the world.

Exposition

Quite often, we think of the church as a product to be engineered. If we do the right things, run the right programs, people will turn to Jesus. But Jesus, when talking about the kingdom, used farming analogies that showed it was hard work and out of our control. If the rains don’t come at the right time in the right amount, and the sun doesn’t shine enough, it doesn’t matter how hard you work. The farmer can’t make the seed sprout. He only prepares and manages the soil.

Our question today is: How can we prepare the soil in our church so that when the Holy Spirit begins to work, bringing people to Christ, new believers can thrive and multiply?

What was the soil in Jerusalem? What was it like when God was adding daily to their number? In Acts 2:1-4 we see that they were filled with the Spirit, God’s presence was with them.

Presence

10 days after Jesus’ ascension, at the feast of gathering (Pentecost), while the disciples were in one place, a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, the same root word as spirit, and it filled the entire house where they were at. Then, what looked like fire in the appearance of divided tongues rested on every one of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, God himself. Christ made his home in their hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit

What is so significant about the Spirit living in us? What does he do?  Well, John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize them with the Spirit and fire, fulfilled here.  This was a baptism for the destruction of sin, enlightening of the mind, and the consolation of their heart.

Yet in John 14:16 Jesus says, “…I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.” Here Christ says that He will ask the Father to give another Helper. The term Helper has been translated as Comforter, Advocate, or Counselor. This Greek word Paraclete is only used by John. It has the basic meaning of one who is called to the side of. The reason that some translate it advocate is that in a public setting, it would denote a defense attorney, someone who came alongside you and spoke on your behalf. However, in a private setting, it denotes someone who comes along side and supports someone in difficult moments.

This word is rich in meaning, throughout Scripture we see the Spirit fulfilling all these roles. Yet, the most important thing to note is that Jesus asked the Father to send His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to come in His place, and be by our side to be our comforter and advocate.

Comforter

It is clear in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit seals us with Christ, shows us who God is, and brings peace to our souls. This is why Paul says in Rom. 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit brings us peace, comfort, and joy, as we know from personal experience. Many times, in our lives, we end up reading our Bible and praying, we hear a sermon that spoke the truth of the Gospel, a truth about Christ, that spoke about the Truth, Jesus Christ, and we were comforted. This is the work of the Spirit as a Counselor or Comforter.

Advocate

It is also true that Jesus pleads our case with God, which is why He is called an advocate. Jesus stands as our representation at the bar of justice. He stands on our behalf. He doesn’t beg God to be merciful to us. Jesus stands before the Father and declares that the penalty for sin has been paid, the ransom has been given, and it is finished. It would be unjust for God to require two penalties for one crime.

But Jesus tells us that He sends us another Advocate. The Holy Spirit who lives with and in us. He advocates by pleading God’s case with us. The Spirit pleads the case of Christ with our souls, leading us to the truth. The Holy Spirit speaks the truth of Christ to us. This is why Jesus here calls Him the Spirit of Truth. It is because He leads us to the Truth…Jesus.

The Devil tries to pervert our understanding of who God is, just as he did to Eve in the garden. Instead of speaking about Christ, the Truth, he speaks lies, trying to pull us away from God.

So, all of this teaches us that God is really doing us good, and the Spirit will argue this case with us if we read the Word of God and listen as He speaks. He argues with our soul and teaches us that all things are for our good, and if He has given us His Son, will He not give us all things? The Spirit dispels our bitterness and doubt regarding God. If He lives in us and we listen to Him He will always win the argument. Listen, as the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Christ, speaks the truth to us.

The Spirit has made His home with us and is in us. This gives us great comfort through all the storms and trials of life. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate. Jesus hasn’t left us empty and bankrupt but rather has left us with another Advocate, who pushes us to Christ, and never leaves us.

Empowerment

In Acts 1, Jesus tells his disciples that, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Spirit gives skill and power to us for the purpose of equipping us to do his work while on this earth. Not only does the Holy Spirit help us to remember what Jesus said and taught, but he also gives us words to say when we are challenged by the world. He empowers us to witness powerfully and without fear. He gives us power to live in a spiritually-minded way, to pray correctly, to live out the law of love, and to live in joy and peace. Not only this, but the Spirit is the one who gives us gifts and empowers us to use them for the good of his people.

All this points us to the fact that the presence of the Spirit in us is the empowerment that we need to practice Acts 2:42-47.

Practices

In Acts 2:42-47 we see the result of God’s presence. It produced devotion to certain activities. What does the word devoted mean? It is to practice something regularly for a long time, to focus on it. It simply becomes something that you do. It is like a fish swimming in water. It doesn’t need to be taught; it just is. That is what it was made for.

God’s presence with them by the Holy Spirit is the soil that produced this devotion. This devotion led to four practices. What were they?

Devoted to feeding on Christ from God’s word

First, the apostle’s teaching. We still have these teachings…they are found in the word of God. This was not just believing what they heard from God’s word, but listening so they could practice what it says, share it, and help others do the same. The apostles taught them how to put it into practice, then those people taught others.

It says that they were doing these things regularly. In fact, they weren’t simply faithful to these things weekly, but daily. God’s church met together if not every single day of the week, every day they could. They were learning what the apostles taught so they could more deeply love Jesus, put Jesus’ words and commands into practice, and share with others so they could all practice it together.

They were doing this so they could continually feed on Christ. They were single-mindedly faithful to knowing Christ so they could feed on him. Why? They were hungry for him. He was all they wanted. In short, they were filled with the Spirit because they were drawn to the teaching of the gospel message from the word of God. They were feasting on the word of God which is really feasting on Christ!

Devoted to feeding on Christ in worship

Second, they were devoted to the breaking of bread. This isn’t only the Lord’s Supper, but it certainly included it. If you look in verse 46, you see they met in the temple courts but also broke bread in their homes. They were together with glad and sincere hearts. This breaking of bread is seen in worship corporately and in smaller groups.

They were continually feeding on Christ through vibrant worship. The best way I can describe this is that they were devoted to feeding on Christ as they worshiped him with joy. They were worshipping Christ in all of life…at church and at home. In their worship, they remembered Christ in the Lord’s Supper and they remembered him as they ate meals together.

Feeding on Christ with one another

Third, they were devoted to the fellowship. You may have heard the term koinania before. This term denotes a close association or partnership. We call it fellowship, identifying with one another and sharing in our life experiences. They were continually feeding on Christ in loving fellowship with him and one another. The best way I can describe this is that they were devoted to fellowship with one another because of their union in Christ. They lived for one another because they were all united in Christ. They shared the same Spirit, and all partook of the same salvation. Therefore, they lived a shared life.

In Phil. 3:10 Paul talks about the fellowship that he has with the sufferings of Jesus. He wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection so much that he even wanted to share in the fellowship of his sufferings. He wanted to experience Christ as fully as he could.

When you identify with others in community, you share the experiences they have. They identified themselves as followers of Jesus, they lived as brothers and sisters. They shared one another's joys and sufferings. The other's needs became their needs.

They expressed this type of community as they sold their possessions to take care of those among them who were poor. They built a community of mutual dependence.

Feeding on Christ in prayer together and apart

Fourth, they were devoted to the prayers. At this time, a person would gather for prayer three times a day: morning, noon, and evening. These times were called “the hour of prayer.” They lived a life that was radically dependent upon God. It was expressed through individual and community prayer done regularly and consistently.

They continually fed themselves and others with Christ because he is good. The best way I can describe this is that they were devoted to communing with Christ individually and together, trying to get others to do the same. This communion is expressed in prayer. They had a vibrant and continual prayer life. The apostles and members were seriously devoted to prayer, both free and formal. They prayed in the temple, in their homes, as they worked, as they found sick and afflicted people, before preaching and teaching, while being persecuted, during particular prayer times, and over food. They gave thanks for everything.

Application

How would this look today? First, radically sharing our resources for one another’s good. Having a radical generosity because we are united to a hilariously giving God. We would give generously, freely, and sacrificially. Why? Because we are all one in Christ. When one of us suffers, we all suffer.

Second, being radically generous. Having a shared life where we are involved and committed to each other. We would give up our own riches to ensure that others weren’t poor. This is a radical way of life.

Third, meeting together corporately and in small groups. Being in awe of God and being joyful. We would praise God both in large groups and in small groups. People would be able see how happy we are. After all, we have the presence of the living God inside us actively working. How could we not be happy? We would love to be together because we love to see Christ in one another. We can worship Christ better and see him more clearly when we are together.

Fourth, having a heart of worship and praise to God that bubbles out of us in a joyful and wonderful way. We would have an attractive faith. We would live life in love toward one another. We would not only care for one another, but we would care for outsiders as well.

So, how do we become grounded in the soil of the Spirit’s presence? Four ways. We should be dedicated to the apostle’s teaching. To hearing, living, experiencing, reading the Bible individually and in community, and sharing it with others so we would feed on Christ all the more.

We should be dedicated to worship. To living a life of worship with one another publicly and privately for the purpose of feeding upon Christ.

We should be dedicated to fellowship. Our lives should be built around the fellowship, caring for each other, depending on each other, and drawing nearer to Christ as we partake in our unity we have in Christ.

We should be dedicated to prayer. Our lives should be built around depending on Christ for all that we are and all that we need, watching, waiting, and following his leading.

This kind of life is the life that comes from living in the soil of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.