Acts 1&2

OK, so I've combined/edited my last two blogs because they go together so well.  Even if you've read the other two, read this one because everything flows together nicely. 

I've chosen to go through Acts because I believe it gives us a picture of two very important things.

1. It gives us a picture of the church before American culture.  Not that American culture is necessarily a bad thing, I just think it's important to know the principles on which the early church was founded.

2. It gives us a picture of true, genuine revival. The leadership team at Under1 believes that our ministry is in a season of revival.  Again I think it's important to look at the key things that made revival happen.

Disclaimer: When I talk about revival I'm not talking about a huge growth in numbers (although that goes along with it), I'm talking about God moving the hearts of people like never before. A church experiences a true revival when it's number one purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ.

Ok so, here we go!  I've found three key things in this early revival.


1.Obedience

Acts 1:1-5 (NIV84)

"1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”"

Ok so, after Jesus rose again he appeared to many people for forty days.  On one occasion, he gives them pretty a pretty specific command.  They are not allowed to leave Jerusalem until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Bryan said a while ago that "Revival begins with obedience."  I see evidence of this here in the first chapter of Acts.  The disciple's obedience proved that they had a desire to seek out God's will and not their own.  There are two lessons we can learn about obedience from the disciples. 

1.Obedience requires patience.
They were never told exactly how long it would take.  They were just told to wait for a few days. 
When God is going to do something big He rarely tells us how long it will take.  True obedience means being patient for as long as you need to be even if you don't know when or what the outcome will be.  The disciples didn't complain about having to wait, they just did it because they were obedient.

2.Obedience requires initiative.
They weren't told exactly what to do while they were waiting.  The disciples weren't told to pray they did it because they were seeking after God.

I hear people say that they want to get closer to God but they don't know how.  Many people (I used to be like this until Unceasing) think that once they get closer to God they will start reading their Bible more or they will start praying more or they will start giving more.  In reality, they have it backwards.  When you seek after God, that's when you feel closer.

It's like any relationship.  I'll say to someone "Hey we should hang out!"  Then later on they'll call or text me wanting to know if I want to hang out.  I'll text them back and tell them that I'm busy and we never end up hanging out.  

I feel like I do that to God sometimes.  I say to God "I want to be closer to You." Yet I spend my free time playing video games or watching movies or doing something other than spending time with God. Just like any relationship, it takes initiative on my part.

Which leads me to point number two.

2.Prayer

Acts 1:12-14 (NIV84)

"12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."

Another key point in revival is prayer.  We just finished a week of 'Unceasing' prayer at our church and it was epic.  Prayer is often something we take for granted but it's vital that we pray constantly.  How are we going to know what God's plan is if we don't talk to Him?


Like I said earlier.  We don't pray more as a result of being closer to God.  We get a deeper relationship with God by praying.  Spending time with God is something we should have a desire to do on a daily basis.

When I say prayer I'm not talking about a Christmas-list-type prayer.  I'm talking about earnestly seeking the mindset and a heart of God.  One of my favorite things to study in the Bible is the life of David.  Although David messed up he was still considered a 'man after God's own heart.'  You can read in the Psalms that David wasn't praying for material things, his desire was a deeper relationship with God.

3.Unity

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV84)

"1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

This brings me to the third key point in revival.  Unity. It is incredibly important that we are united.  Revival isn't something that one person can do on their own.  Revival is a team effort and the team is a team of Christ followers.  If we are going to see revival in this generation than we have to be willing to drop all of our disagreements and stand with each other.


We have to love our neighbor, be quick to forgive, and willing to resolve any conflicts.  As soon as the enemy gets a foothold, things can quickly get out of control.

So, there  are three things the disciples brought that were essential to starting a revival.
1. Obedience
2. Prayer
3. Unity

Now lets take a look at what the received as a result.

1.Boldness
Acts 2:14(NIV84)

"14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say."'

Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times after he was arrested.  Peter was constantly putting his foot in his mouth yet during his whole speech he is able to speak with boldness and confidence.  There is even more evidence of this later on when the early Christians start being persecuted. 


It's important tor recognize that there is a difference between arrogance and boldness.  Peter was confident in what he was speaking but he wasn't using the gospel to make himself look any better than anyone else.  

2.Response

Acts 2:37-41 (NIV84)

"37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all who the Lord our God will call. 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

There was a response from the crowd that Peter spoke to.  In this case it was positive, but that wasn't always the case later on.  With boldness comes response.  The world reacts to boldness.  The world isn't changed by shy or timid people (wow do I need to hear that).   Bold people yield bold responses.

3.Provision

Acts 2:44-47

"44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The people began providing for each other's needs.  Now, people weren't receiving mass amounts of treasure but they were receiving everything that they needed.  Provision is different than prosperity. Later on there are places where the only things the people received were literally the things they needed. However, we can be confident that we will receive everything we need.

So in summary, the disciples were obedient to God's command, they prayed constantly and they did it all together in unity.

Obedience+Prayer+Unity=Boldness+Response+Provision.


Well, I think this definitely clears things up. 


Thanks for reading, 


-JDWayt