The Apostles Teaching

The Apostles’ Teaching Acts 2.42-47 Revelation 2.1-7, 13.8-10 We are looking at the things the church in its infancy were devoted to. In His addresses/letters to the seven churches in Asia the LORD commended the good as well as rebuke that which was wrong. The Ephesian Church had forsaken their first love. - Revelation 2.1-7 first= in time and place and rank. In the beginning, out of their love for Christ they their priorities in good order- correct order- their motive and actions were on target. We know they were strong witnesses- they held to the truth. the Word of the LORD spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19.20 What happened?! that Christ told them this! Simply could have been their heart was not as affectionate for Him as in the beginning. The beginnings of love… joy, thrill, just wanting to be around the person What were the early days of  our church like? No building, Main Street Memorial Building, Smith Street What brought us together in 1945 by the efforts of the Bellmore and Patchogue Churches. You had on the south shore Patchogue Bellmore and East Rockaway that was it as far as the Church of the Nazarene was concerned. These folks had concern for the lost and started this church from that heart. They were devoted. Sunday then was a full day of meetings. They held our services the beginnings of at 3 PM in the afternoon, every Sunday. Wonderful! 76 years later, what has happened? 3 Spanish Speaking Churches have begun, one Haitian Church and the rebuilding of a church down in Haiti, joining in with Peniel in Columbia Our congregation has survived and thrived in a Pandemic. Spiritually. What is holding us together today? The Apostles Teaching The Fellowship The Breaking of Bread Prayer What happened in Ephesus? Perhaps other issues became more important than witnessing- spreading the Word. It could be that they had become bitter and angry- perhaps they had gotten caught up in getting rich quick schemes? Paul wrote to Timothy about those who think godliness is a means to financial gain (I Timothy 6.5) Did they lose the fellowship? Did they stop breaking bread together? Did they stop praying? Maybe they were doing all of them but without passion. Maybe they had let some of them slip out of being “devoted to” The height from which they fell - Love is the highest place a church can come to. You cannot improve on love! They lost their first love.. Perhaps God's Word and prayer wasn't as important as it once was- maybe they stopped teaching about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit- we have all seen that happen. * When a loss of first love happens the Apostles Teaching, the Word of God loses it authority in a life. Acts 6. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word. We are in a time now that “calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13.10b Difficult times are coming in the end for the people of God. We are told here of extreme terror. Some places in the world have seen that. Coptic Christians in Egypt… time will tell what is happening in Afghanistan with the church. If China invades Taiwan the church there will suffer greatly. Like In the times of the prophets. Jeremiah Elijah under Ahab. There is a need today to patiently persevere in the Word. Pastors need to be faithful to the Word. God’s people need to be devoted to the Word * What was the Apostles Teaching? It was the Word. What was the Word? It is the Logos. John 1.1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. With great power the apostles continue to testify to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was with them all. Acts 4.33 The apostles teaching was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified and risen and coming again! I Corinthians 2.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The early church was devoted to this. Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere We are in a time now that “calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13.10b Patient Endurance= steadfastness, constancy in the face of the greatest trials Deliberate and loyal Faithfulness= conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it Revelation 10.9a He who has an ear let him hear… The Spirit is speaking to the church today, right now. The time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. There is also a time of persecution coming to the Christians here in the United States. We have seen it around the world. We need to be prepared for it here. The best preparation we can make is found here in the scripture this morning. Be devoted to the Apostles Teaching. Read your Bible. Hebrews 10.25 Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage each other and all the more as we see the Day approaching. Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. John 8.31 Study God’s Word by yourself. Meditate on it. Remain in His Word. Abide in it. Continue in it. Listen to the online Bible Studies. If you are not up at 6:30am, listen later. Be a Berean! Acts 17.11 Now the Berean were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Jesus gave them a solution Remember- Repent- do the things you did at first. Be a lover of God and His Word. Be devoted to the Apostles Teaching.

The Mystery of God

The Mystery of God Revelation 10.1-7 Psalm 92.1-2, 59.16-17 Call to Worship  Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” 5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.” God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform, He sets his footsteps on the sea, and rides upon the storm. There are mysteries in life and there are mysteries in the Bible. In the Word of God… · The ultimate conversion of the Jewish people is called a mystery (Romans 11:25) 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. They are close. They are spiritually blind. They will come. God promised it. He never fails. · The church is called a mystery (Ephesians 3:3-11) The Gentiles coming in 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. The fullness of the Gentiles is called a mystery (Romans 11:25) One day the last Gentile will come. At that time God will turn His attention to Israel for their salvation and all Israel will be saved. · The living presence of Jesus in the believer is called the mystery of God (Colossians 1:27-2:3) I Timothy 3. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh,     was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels,     was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world,     was taken up in glory. God in us. We becoming godly. Change in our hearts and minds. It is all about Him and what He has done. · The Gospel itself is called the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3) 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. That is a good prayer for us to pray for those suffering for the Gospel, for all of us. SunRay this week. * There are mysteries around the Second Coming. I Corinthians 15. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory?     Where, O death, is your sting?” The mysteries of life… When I Don’t Understand When I don’t understand, There is One Who does, Fills me with His presence, Til I am lost in His love. When I don’t understand, He gives me Grace each day, Places His Hand upon me, Leads me in His way. When I don’t understand, I trust in His Word, Looking to His promises Made by my LORD. God gives us somethings to know, others we do not know. Sometimes life doesn’t make sense. We need to have the Eternal Perspective. In Life… * Why do the innocent suffer? * Why are people who seem to have faith not healed. * Why does Christ wait for His Return? * Why do lose people at a young age? * If God knows who is going to heaven why do we just get there? * Why does God not answer me? * Why does He stand afar off in times of trouble? * Why can’t we just simple get along on earth? * Why do the wicked prosper? We need that heavenly perspective. I believe that many times we are disappointed because we have set our affections on things below rather than think above. I Corinthians 13. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Matthew 11.6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me. -Jesus to John the Baptist. Right now we are to reflect His Glory to a lost world. The glory of God was in the temple. The lamp stand was a symbol of light. Living holy lives is a way of bringing His Kingdom to earth. Sometimes there are no answers that seem to satisfy… Christ will come. O LORD haste the Day when this faith shall be sight. Jesus cried out “My God my God why have You abandoned Me? “It was the last blow for the Man of sorrows. Live by faith. -Fenelon