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Acts 2Acts 2:1-46(1) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

I. The Feast of Pentecost: The Feast of Pentecost is the second major Jewish feast. It is also known as the Feast of Ingathering. This feast takes place 50 days after Passover. Of course, this particular Pentecost took place after the Lord’s crucifixion on the previous Passover. This is the time that they would gather the winter wheat and the winter grains that had been sown. Pentecost was marked by the Children of Israel taking a portion of their field and harvesting it. They would tie the wheat into sheaves, and they would bring them before the Lord as a wave offering because the priest would take and wave them before the Lord as the first fruits were given unto God. As was the custom in all the Jewish feasts, there would be Jews that had gathered from all over the world to celebrate. So, when the day of Pentecost had fully come . . .

(2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.(3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.(4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

II. As the Spirit gave them utterance: We notice here certain phenomenon accompanying the Holy Spirit. For one, there was “. . . a sound from heaven as of a rushing might wind, . . . that filled the [whole] house where they were sitting.” I want to point out to you that they were sitting. I think it’s important to note. Why?

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It doesn’t really matter whether you are sitting, standing, or kneeling. It is never the physical position of your body that matters but the spiritual condition of your heart. Personally, I’m tired of trying to formulate God because God defies any formulation by man. People, however, are always trying to put together a formula or a method, if you will. I guess this really falls into the category of human nature, but there’s certainly nothing spiritual about it. This has always reminded me of a poem called, “The Prayer of Cyrus Brown” by Sam Walter Foss.

THE PRAYER OF CYRUS BROWN“The proper way for a man to pray,” said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,

“And the only proper attitude is down upon his knees.”“No, I should say the way to pray,” said Rev. Doctor Wise,

“Is standing straight with outstretched arms and rapt and upturned eyes.”“Oh, no; no, no,” said Elder Slow, “Such posture is too proud:

A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed.”“It seems to me his hands should be austerely clasped in front.

With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,” said Rev. Doctor Blunt.“Las’ year I fell in Hodgkin’s well head first,” said Cyrus Brown,

“With both my heels a-stickin’ up, my head a-pointing down;“An’ I made a prayer right then an’ there– best prayer I ever said,

The prayingest prayer I ever prayed, a-standing on my head.”

Like I said, it is the condition of your heart—not the position of your body, whether that is in prayer or in worship—it just doesn’t matter. God defies formulation. So, they were sitting, in this particular case, and there appeared unto them these cloven tongues of fire and it sat upon each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. In this particular case, they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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(5) And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.(6) Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

III. Noised abroad: It is apparent from our text that these devout Jews who were in Jerusalem heard the noise of this mighty, rushing wind coming out of this house. They came running to see what was going on.

(7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?(8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?(9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,(10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,(11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

IV. The wonderful works of God: I want you to notice that when these devout Jews heard them speaking in their own languages, the disciples were not preaching sermons, nor were their words addressed to men. Their words were, however, addressed to God, for they were proclaiming the wonderful works of God. I don’t know where it came from, but somewhere in their history, the Pentecostal churches have come to the mistaken notion that God often speaks to the church through tongues and the interpretation of tongues. This is not scriptural.

1 Corinthians 14:2(2) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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In fact, no where in scripture does God ever speak to men through unknown tongues. These devout Jews were praising God, they were glorifying God, and declaring the wonderful works of God in various languages. Of course, the people were amazed.

(12) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

V. They have a question: Notice that when they saw this phenomenon, there arose a question among the hearers. “What meaneth this?”

(13) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:(15) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

VI. Peter answers their question: Remember their question was, “What does this mean?” Peter’s answer, first of all, addresses their question. I think it is extremely important that when a man is preaching, that the message being preached answers the questions that are in the minds of the people. There is so much preaching today that is so totally irrelevant to anything. Many find themselves thinking, “Well, thanks for the information; I really didn’t need it, and I don’t know what to do with it now that I’ve got it.” Here, Peter answers the question directly, and he answers their question by giving a scriptural basis for the phenomenon they had observed.

(16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

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VII. Be scriptural: Peter begins to give them scriptural basis for this phenomenon that they had witnessed. I want to drive it home to you that it is very important to be able to give a scriptural basis for any spiritual phenomenon. So many tread on dangerous ground when they are seeking spiritual phenomenon for which there is no scriptural basis. Whenever you get into the area of spiritual phenomenon, people are going to ask questions. “What is this?” If you cannot give a scriptural basis for their question, I believe you are treading on scary ground. I, for one, am not interested in any kind of phenomenon for which I cannot give scriptural basis. I think it’s downright irresponsible for evangelists or anyone to promote spiritual phenomenon without scriptural foundation.

Illustration: Let me give you a story from my own past to illustrate what I’m talking about. Over 20 years ago, for a short period of time, I was attending a Pentecostal church in my home town. They were wanting me to play in the worship band, so I was considering it. In the course of my attendance, they had brought in an evangelist one Sunday morning who began to demonstrate a spiritual phenomenon called, “Being Slain in the Spirit.” I sat there in the pew and watched as, one by one, people would go forward and the evangelist would lay hands on their heads, the people would pass out, and two men would catch them and lay them out on the floor. At the end of the service after most people had left, I stayed behind to ask the pastor to give me a scriptural basis for the spiritual phenomenon that I had witnessed, to which he readily and half-heartedly, I might add, tried to cite John 18:6, which says:

John 18:6

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(6) As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

I then asked him if we could read the entire text in its context. So, I opened to John 18:3 and read to Verse 8. I pointed out to him that all those who fell backward to the ground were unbelievers, to which he stared in bewilderment at the text before him. With no place else to go, he simply looked up at me and said, “Doug, there’s more things being cooked up in the kitchen than what’s on the menu.” He meant that he didn’t care whether he had a scriptural basis for his spiritual phenomenon or not. This, my friends, is shaky ground, at best, and leads to nothing but confusion in the hearts of the believers.

In contrast to my story, Peter leads them right to the Word of God. “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Something else that I want to point out to you. Notice how Peter quotes from the prophet Joel. It is so easy to see that Peter had a good, working knowledge of the Word of God. I bring this to your attention in order that I might point out to you the characteristics of the men that God uses. We’ll see more of this as we go through the book of Acts. One of the first characteristics that we find of men that God uses is that they are men of prayer. Peter and the others had been waiting daily in prayer and supplication. The men that God uses are also men of the Word. Peter had a good, working knowledge of the Word of God. He is able to quote from the Psalms—remote, little Psalms—Psalms that are not going to jump out at you or catch your attention. Yet, here he is quoting from them, putting them together, and making sense out of them.

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Illustration: Many years ago, the great theologian and Bible teacher Dr. Howard Hendricks told the story of one of his Bible students who had come to him in private and told him that he wanted to be a man of God. Howard’s reply to him was simple. He instructed the young man to bring him his daily itinerary for the next two weeks on the following day, and they would discuss the matter. On the following day, the young man brought him his itinerary for the next two weeks—everything that he had to get done from the moment he got up until the moment he went to bed. Dr. Hendricks looked at the paper and after having surveyed every entry, he handed it back to the young man and said, “You need to forget the idea. You don’t have the time to be a man of God, for no where in your itinerary do you make room for prayer or the serious study of God’s Word.” I would agree with his assessment. If you are going to be a man or woman of God that is fit for the Maker’s use, then you have to be a man or woman of prayer and a man or woman of the Word.

So, as this phenomenon is taking place, they are saying, “What meaneth this?” Peter answers saying, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.”

(17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:(18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:(19) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:(20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:(21) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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VIII. Last days promise: As Peter is quoting Joel, he is pointing to the promise that God would send the Holy Spirit upon the world. It is important to note that this is a last days promise, an end-time prophecy, if you will. Joel actually carries this prophecy right up to the second coming of Jesus Christ. “I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood. . . .” These are things of the great tribulation period. Then he says, “. . . before that great and notable day of the Lord,” speaking of the second coming of Jesus Christ. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The prophet Joel is talking about the empowering of the Holy Spirit. This was not going to be limited to just a short period of church history but was to continue throughout church history right until the second coming of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is wrong to try to put limitations upon the experience of being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

IX. Jesus of Nazareth: There were many people at the time who were named Yeshua. So, here Peter uses “Jesus of Nazareth” so that the hearers would know exactly to whom he was referring. Look at what he says about Him first.

a. Approved: The word “approved” here literally means, “proved to be God among you.” How was He proved to be God? “. . . By miracles and wonders and signs . . . ,” which they all knew.

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If you remember back in the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “Believe me or else believe for the very works sake” (John 14:11). Jesus often pointed to His works as proof of His origin and of the authority for His ministry and His identity. He said, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the very works sake.” So, Peter is pointing out that the works Jesus did attested to the fact that He was proved to be God in the flesh. Remember what they said about Jesus: “. . . No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). But Peter goes on:

(23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

X. Determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God: I want you to notice here that Peter is not speaking about some random, horrible accident that happened. He’s talking about the crucifixion of Christ, but he says it was “. . . by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God . . . .” In reality, it couldn’t have been any other way because the scriptures had prophesized it. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 52 spoke of the crucifixion of Jesus being lifted up. Even Isaiah 53 spoke in great detail of the death of the Messiah. Therefore, there could be no other conclusion that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was planned by God long before Jesus came into the world. Thus, the scriptures say, that Christ was crucified “. . . from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:3).

a. You have taken: Even though it was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, Peter does not let the people off the hook. In fact, he doesn’t let anyone off the hook. Peter says, “. . . you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Peter makes the

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responsibility of Jesus’ crucifixion personal. Oh, how times have changed! Make it personal:

John 19:10-11(10) Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?(11) Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

You see, my friends, if you are ever going to lead someone to the cross that they might be saved, you have got to show them that it was their sin that put Him there, and even though God had predetermined it to be so, He holds you personally responsible. Quit letting people off the hook.

(24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

XI. The resurrection: Once again, remember the disciples were looking to fill the shoes of Judas, so they needed someone who could bear witness to the resurrection. Remember, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has always been the central message of the church and wherever the message of the resurrection has ceased to be preached, that church has ceased to be a church. Paul, the apostle, would go on to say, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (I Corinthians 15:19).

a. Death could not hold Him: Why was it not possible that death could hold Him? Because the scripture not only prophesized of His death, but also His resurrection, and because God had ordained it to be so in advance. Thus, it had to happen. It was not possible that He could be held by death.

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(25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:(26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:(27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.(28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

XII. Back to the Word of God: Notice here, again, how Peter is quoting from the Word of God. It was something that was just engrained in his heart. The men that God uses are men who have hidden that Word in their hearts. They have a ready access to it—the ability to just quote from God’s Word the things that pertain to this life and the one to come. Now, Peter begins to expound upon this very text.

(29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.(30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

XIII. The Messiah comes through David: David knew that the Messiah would come through him. David was a man who was overcome by the grace of God, which is always a beautiful experience to be totally overcome by God’s goodness and grace. David was a prophet, and he knew that God had promised that the Messiah would come through him.

(31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

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XIV. Jesus descends into hell: When Jesus died, He descended into hell and preached to those souls that were in prison. If you go back and read Isaiah 61, you will see that part of the prophesy of Christ would be that He would open the doors of those who were bound and set free those who were in prison, to set at liberty the captives. Prior to the death of Christ, it was not possible that the Old Testament saints could enter into the full glory of God’s presence. As we studied through Hebrews, the Old Testament sacrifices could not put away their sins; it only covered their sins, which is why the scriptures spoke of a better sacrifice that was to come—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Thus, all of the Old Testament saints died in faith not having received the promise of God, having reserved a better thing for us that they, without us, could not be perfected. So, when Jesus died, He descended into hell and preached to those souls that were in prison. According to Paul in Ephesians 4, when Jesus ascended, He lead captivity captive and gave gifts to men through the Holy Spirit. “He who ascended is the same One who first descended into the lower parts of the earth.”

As you remember in the Gospel of Matthew, they came to Jesus asking for a sign, but He said there would no sign be given except for the sign of the prophet Jonah, for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). Jesus descended into hell and preached to those Old Testament saints who were waiting with Abraham for the promises of God to be fulfilled. Thus, He preached to them the glorious victory of the cross. The sacrifice had been made complete. It was now finished. Thus, when He ascended, He led captivity captive. So, Hell, at this point, was partially emptied.

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Thus, there will be two resurrections: The just to everlasting life, and the unjust to everlasting condemnation. That resurrection, my friends, has not yet taken place and will not take place until the time of the thousand-year reign of Christ upon the earth.

(32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

XV. Back to the resurrection: Peter points to their eyewitness, once again, of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the central focus point of his message. Thus, he says, “He was a man proved to be God among you by signs and wonders which He did, whom you, according to God’s predeterminant counsel and foreknowledge with your wicked hands have crucified and slain who God raised from the dead because it was not possible that death could hold Him.”

Notice that when Peter gets to the central message, he expounds on it. He gives his listeners a scriptural basis for it and shows them that the resurrection is a Biblical concept and says again, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”

(33) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

XVI. Back to the question: Notice, once again, that Peter goes right back to answer the question, “What meaneth this?” regarding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which they were observing. They were observing visible sign of tongues of fire and an audible evidence of the outpouring of the Spirit as the disciples were glorifying God in other languages.

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(34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,(35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool.(36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

XVII. Laying it on the line: The Bible tells us that there is coming a day when “. . . every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God, the Father” (Romans 14:11). Peter doesn’t mesh words. He isn’t concerned about making the people uncomfortable or offending them because it’s his love of them and his concern for their eternity that gives him the brutal honesty to speak the truth to them in love. Therefore, he says:

“. . . Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Too many preachers today, my friends, are concerned with offending the seeker. They are afraid that if they get too personal with challenging people about what they believe about Jesus Christ, they won’t come back. I, personally, as Peter, don’t have time for such foolishness because there are souls at stake. Therefore, I would rather offend you now and see you in heaven than to appease your conscience and you wind up in hell. There’s just too much at stake. So, let us be like Peter and lay it on the line because one of two things will happen: They will either get saved, or they will stay in their wicked ways. The Holy Spirit cannot use appeasers, but He does bless the proclaimers. So, we read:

(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

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XVIII. What shall we do: Having heard the preaching of the Gospel convincingly executed by the power of the Holy Spirit and anointing upon the Apostle Peter, those who were pricked in the heart immediately became aware of their own guilt—not by slick persuasion or the craftiness of men—but by the conviction of the Holy Spirit through a willing, human vessel. Thus, they asked, “What shall we do?” Notice what Peter does not say to them. He doesn’t say, “Come join this church,” or Pay your tithes,” or “Help me keep this ministry going.” But he says:

(38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

XIX. Into Jesus Christ: “In the name of Jesus Christ” literally from the Greek is to be “baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.” You are coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ. There are those in Christendom who call themselves “Jesus only.” In theology, we call this modalism. They make a very big deal over the baptismal formula and say that if you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you weren’t really baptized. Thus, they go about deceiving poor souls, telling them that the only real baptism is in the name of Jesus only when it’s not even in the name of Jesus that Peter is talking about but being baptized into the name of Jesus, entering into a relationship with Him.

a. For the remission of sin: These same people believe that water baptism is what washes away your sin because Peter says to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. This is where a little English dictionary would come in handy. The word “for” also means “because.”

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Illustration: If you were to go into a post office today, you will see on their bulletin board many “Wanted” posters. Some of them will say something to the effect: “John Doe: Wanted for murder.” Now, the question is this: Is John Doe wanted for the purpose of committing a murder, or is he wanted because he has committed a murder? The question is rhetorical, my friends. It is obvious that he is wanted for a murder that he has already committed. Thus, what Peter is actually saying is, “Be baptized every one of you into the name of Jesus Christ because your sins are forgiven” to which the rest of scripture attests.

(39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

XX. What promise?: The promise that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.

a. Who is it for?: It is for you. It is for your children and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord, our God, shall call. Notice here that Peter does not say that it is just good for the time of the early church but down through all of church history. Thus, as many as the Lord our God shall call. Is He still calling? The answer is, “Yes.” Then the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is still in effect.

(40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.(41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

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XXI. Exponential growth: Now here’s a church growth program I can get my fingers around—a true, rapid church growth program. This small band of believers of 120 witnessed exponential growth and went from a small fellowship of 120 to around 3,000 souls in one day.

When the law was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, 3,000 souls lost their lives. On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 3,000 souls were saved.

Important to note: I think it’s very important to note what the early church was doing in order to spark such exponential growth. What programs were they engaged in? How many outreach ministries did they have? What were they doing?

(42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

XXII. Four institutions: There were four institutions in the early church. The first was that they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (the study of God’s Word). Secondly, they were engaged in true fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia.” This is a very interesting word in the Greek because its implications really go beyond translating it into English. Basically, it means, “Coming together and becoming a part of each other; forming a strong bond; having communion and commonness between themselves.” They broke bread together, which is a symbol of their inner relationship, and they continued steadfastly in prayers.

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Note: I want you to notice that many of the things that the church does today are not listed here. I believe a lot of the things that the church does today are extraneous and supercilious. We would do well to let them die a natural death instead of trying to keep them alive through artificial means.

(43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.(44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;(45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.(46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

XXIII. Early communism: We see here that the church gave in to an early form of communism, but it was prompted by their love for one another. Those that had much were willing to sell what they had in order to distribute to those who did not have. While it seems good on the surface, I, personally, do not believe this was something that the Lord led them to do. The church is Jerusalem would soon find itself in dire straits because of it. We will see this as we get further into the book of Acts.

a. House to house: The church was in one accord in their collective worship, and they broke bread from house to house. They did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. What was the result?

(47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

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In closing:

When the church was what God wanted the church to be, then God did for the church what He was wanting to do. Today, the church spends much time and effort in growth programs, fretting about how to increase attendance, going about studying psychology and sociology and making ridiculous demographic studies of communities and determining what will appeal to people of this particular community. What type of advertising program will be most effective? They take polls and census, putting everything together so that we can have a church-growth program so that we can add members to our church.

Many churches have turned to professionals who will come in—for a fee—and do all these studies and the what not, and will develop a whole growth program for you. They will set up a whole financial program for you. Of course, they will do this for 10 percent of the take. Of course, the only one that gets taken is the church. The early church had nothing to do with these kinds of things. You see, they just weren’t very sophisticated. They hadn’t gone to seminary, so they had to fall back on what they knew. What was that? They just got together, studied the Word, prayed, fellowshipped, and broke bread together. “And the Lord added to them daily such as should be saved.” It was just a natural, spontaneous growth as the Lord added to the church.

Oh, but times have changed, haven’t they? But, God has not changed. The Holy Spirit has not changed, and Jesus has not changed, for this same Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The church is no longer relying upon God, no longer relying upon the Holy Spirit. We’ve given in to men’s devises and men’s ways. We have forsaken the Word of God and given over to entertaining programs, trying to attract people with lavish entertainment that produces nothing. Oh, it might put butts in the seats, my friends, but it will never be enough to see them seated in heaven. This, only the Holy Spirit can do.