POWERED FOR REAL LIVING

Acts 1:1 -2:47

A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 6 April 2008
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Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Now, THERE’S REAL POWER! Power from on high! Not the power of the world, but the power that created the world. Not a worldly power but being clothed in power from on high.
See Jeremiah 31:31-34; Joel 2:28-32

POWERED BY BEING ….

I. CONSUMED WITH A CAUSE (1:1 - 26)

Star Gazers or Earth Shakers? “And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing …” You were Not Meant to be a Sky Gazer. God has a job for us to do.

He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.‘ Jesus was telling them that they should not be concerned and worried about the timetables of earthly concerns; they should instead be open to what God was trying to tell them, and what God was trying to do. Jesus was introducing them to a new dimension of living.

Living in Expectation: Every time we gather we should gather with a deep sense of expectancy about what God will do in us and through us. We should gather together with expectant hearts.

“Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?” (Steve Jobs to John Scully)

The Book of Acts is for world changers and earth shakers. You know you have an overriding purpose that there is something significant in your life that you have not yet tapped. The text gives us a foundation upon which we can build a life of purpose because it shows us how Jesus first gave abilities to the disciples, and then to us, so that we can be powered for real living.

POWERED BY BEING ….

II. CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT OF LIFE (Acts 1:8; 2:1-41)

From Bethany to Pentecost (Luke 24:49-53) There is more … move beyond your current “Bethany blessing” to your own personal PENTECOST!

EVIDENCE OF THE COMING OF HOLY SPIRIT
1. The Wind - A Miracle of Sound (v. 2)
2. The Fire - A Miracle of Sight (v. 3)
3. The Tongues - A Miracle of Speech (v. 4)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit is a Promise of Power - for all believers!
“Out of your belly/life shall flow rivers of living water” - a free flowing river purifies itself and is alive with life.

“Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, even impossible. There can be no life without the life-giver, no understanding without the Spirit of truth, no fellowship without the unity of the Spirit, no Christ likeness of character apart from his fruit, and no effective witness without his power. As a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead.” (John R.W. Stott, “The Spirit, the Church, and the World”)

POWERED BY BEING ….

III. CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY (Acts 2:42-47)

Connecting the dots … It wouldn’t look like anything until you began to connect the dots, and then a picture began to appear. We want to connect the dots so that we get the bigger picture of what it takes to be a church. We want to get connected. We get the picture when we begin to be connected to God and to his people. And when we are all connected to each other, then a picture begins to appear - and it is the face of Christ. When we get connected with each other we also connect the dots for the world and they begin to see God.

“We are a nation of doers. We hurry from place to place, filling our lives with all kinds of activities, sometimes over-scheduling our kids and ourselves. But what really sustains us emotionally, psychologically and physically is connectedness, the feeling that we are part of something that matters, something larger than ourselves that gives life meaning. Just as there is a vitamin deficiency, there is a human contact deficiency and it weakens the body, the mind and the spirit. Its ravages can be severe - depression, physical illness, early death. Or they can be mild - underachievement, fatigue, and loneliness. Just as we need Vitamin C each day, we also need a dose of HUMAN CONTACT everyday with other people.” (Dr. Edward Hallowell, “Connect”)

The Church exists to connect people to God and each other. This church is not a place to attend; it is a family to become connected to. If you want to be powered for real living, if you want to be spiritually and emotionally healthy you need to actually be connected to this family.

HOW CAN YOU BECOME POWERED FOR REAL LIVING?

BE CONSUMED WITH A CAUSE

BE CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT

BE CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY