"Pay Attention TO The Signs"

Pay Attention To The Signs

We all are familiar with signs, everyday signs are part of our lives. Stop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs, signs that advertise, signs that warn. During the 60’s people held up peace signs. There are protest signs, and at football games people hold up signs that show support of their team. Most churches have a sign out front that is used to announce upcoming events, or give important information, or maybe have an inspiring quote for the week. But more important than these signs: the church is supposed to have unity signs. As we read the book of Acts, we find the church didn’t start out as an organization, but a living, on fire organism with signs and wonders following the believers. Today, I want to encourage us as a church, to be the church of unity signs. An overview of the book of Acts clearly shows the disparity between the early church and the modern church. In church today, appearance is more important than substance. Results are generally measured in buildings and finance, over souls and miracles. I desire for TCC to be a church of unity signs and today we will look at the important signs of a unity church.

I. Convicting Message Read Acts 2:37 (NLT): Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

It pierced their heart—every preacher, every member should study the messages of Acts to see if the early message of the church and today’s message of the church are the same. I think it is clear that the message has been watered down, the message has been sapped of all its strength and power, and the message has been totally changed from its original origins.

a. the message is about Jesus—if our message is blessing and prosperity, if our message is about how many horses are there in Revelation, if our message is a deep theological dissertation of useless genealogies, then we have the wrong message. The message is about Jesus, about an old rugged cross, about blood that makes you white as snow, about stripes that can heal your body, about Jesus being the only way to God.

b. The message is about change and repentance. The early message of the church was this: you put Jesus on the cross, your sin is why he had to die, repent of your terrible sins, get right with God, and be born again. That message still works today, if any message doesn’t ultimately point people to Calvary, it is the wrong message x 2

c. The message is about the Messiah—Peter’s message, Stephen’s message, Phillip’s message, and Paul’s message all were the same. That Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus is the Messiah, that Israel was promised, that Jesus was crucified but no grave could hold his body down. That Jesus is coming back for his bride, the church, and you need to be ready for that day.

Ill) Billy Graham—preached four sermons everywhere he went. Salvation, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Healing, and Rapture. Thousands saved and filled with the Spirit. Why? Because that is the message of the church.

II. Total Commitment Read Acts 2:44-45 (NLT): And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

As we view the early church we see another important sign—totally committed Christians. They were all 100% for the Lord. They gave everything they had, they lived the life every day, there was no such thing as a week-end warrior, Jesus Christ was the continual thought of their lives.

a. they all had an obsessive, compulsive behavior. They walked Jesus, they talked Jesus, they breathed Jesus, and they lived Jesus. It was all about him, 24/7—365.

b. They gave willingly, cheerfully to the work of God. They wanted the work to prosper, they wanted the message to spread, so they gave of their time, talent, and abilities.

c. They worked harder for Jesus as Christians than they did for the devil when they were lost. They were willing to suffer, be put down, they all had the sign “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

III. Unified Effort Read Acts 2:46 (NLT): They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity

One accord, singleness of heart—the early church was all about Christ and others. One of the greatest signs a church can have is the sign of unity, oneness in Jesus Christ.

a. in the early church, the thought was; what can I do for the church, not what can the church do for me.

b. They all had the same goal and dream: to spread the gospel or good news into all the earth. Jesus had given the church the great commission, and everyone was on the same page.

c. from house to house—it wasn’t from service to service, it was a daily experience. People were constantly sharing Christ, they were constantly praising God, every meal turned into a supernatural event.

IV. Supernatural Results Read Acts 2:47 (NLT): All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Lord added daily—a unity church is so exciting because people get saved inside the building and outside the building. They get saved from Sunday to Sunday. The Lord is continually adding to a unity church.

a. everyone shared Christ and everyone took part in the harvest. The model for church growth isn’t for the preacher to have the responsibility for the spiritual growth and life of the church, but everyone being a vessel that pours into others.

b. People got saved in the streets, in the homes, in the desert, on the sea, they got saved in every place that the message was sent.

c. In the last days, the reaper will overtake the sower. God has promised for us, tremendous results if you throw out the seeds, you will reap a harvest. X 2

V. Notable Things Read Acts 4:16 (NLT): “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.

For the church to survive in this last hour, there must be notable things taking place in all of our lives. The church must have more life in it than the world has death in it, and the life must overcome death for the church to prosper.

a. Read Acts 5:15 (NLT): As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.

Peter’s shadow—anointing must rest on our lives for notable things to take place. Every believer is to have signs following them everywhere they go.

b. Read Acts 19:11-12 (NLT): God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.

Paul’s handkerchiefs—healing, power, and deliverance are the sign of the church. Paul had such a great anointing, he said, I didn’t come with excellent speeches or man-made wisdom, but in demonstrations of the Spirit of God.

c. power and miracles will get you noticed—when Peter and Paul did these notable miracles, it got the attention of the city. If any of you want to help the cause of Christ, raise a few people from the dead, set a few people free from bondage, defeat the devil everywhere you go, and you will get the church of Jesus noticed.

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