[Peter Eddington] Hello everyone and thank you for joining us today. I pray you are having a good day and this message will be helpful to you, because we’ve just completed the Pentecost season. And back in 31 AD, after the Day of Pentecost had concluded then, the new Church of God proceeded and grew in a very dramatic manner.

Imagine, for a moment, that you’re one of the 120 initial disciples mentioned in the first chapter in the book of Acts. Put on their sandals for a little while. Don yourself with one of those first century cloaks or robes, because, when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place, we read in Acts, chapter 3.

We can read of that account and we already know of the spectacular event that took place for those 120 disciples. It was nothing short of miraculous. I don’t think they comprehended what was about to happen. The wind blew. Parchments blew across the table. And tongues of fire landed upon each of their heads. It was a very dramatic exhibition of the power of God entering the church and entering their lives.

Since that day, we have been in the age of the church. God is not working, at this time, through prophets, or ancient kings or judges. We’re not in the age of the patriarchs. We’re not in the age of kings or judges. We, now, are in the age of the church. God is working through a small group of spirit-begotten humans organized and unified into His church. God’s church is now the means by which He is preparing this world for Christ’s return. It is through us that He is preparing the future leaders and teachers of His kingdom. We have been called for the special service of eventually bringing the knowledge of salvation to all of mankind upon Jesus Christ’s return.

So, as we think about the beginning of the church, back in 31 AD, what can we learn from the congregations and the first church members? What was important to them? What did those 120 disciples hold dear? And so, then, what should be important to us – to you and me? What traits and characteristics do we see in the early church that we can learn from?

In the sermon here today, I have two main thoughts. What was God’s purpose for the early New Testament church? And what is God’s purpose for you and me today? And I’ve titled the sermon, The Early Church and You – The Early Church and Me – The Early Church and You.

So, firstly, what was God’s purpose for the early New Testament church? I’ve said that it was, number one, growing in faith, obedience and understanding – growing in faith, obedience and understanding.

Let’s look at Acts, chapter 3, for a moment and notice verse 1. A number of very public miracles took place that helped to strengthen the belief, faith and understanding of the new church membership. It was a very special time. Look at Acts, chapter 3, and verse 1:

Acts 3:1 – Now Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer – the ninth hour – and a certain man, lame from his mother’s womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which was called Beautiful – so, by the Beautiful Gate – to ask alms of those who entered the temple. What’s interesting is, that this fellow, who was lame, was now more than 40 years old. So he wasn’t a kid anymore. Acts, chapter 4, verse 22, says that he was, at least, 40 years old. Verse 3:

V-3 – Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked for alms – asked for help, asked for a donation. Verse 4:

V-4 – And fixing his eyes on him with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give you” – and he said – “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And, of course, having been lame – handicapped – for his entire life, to this man, that healing would have been more valuable than silver or gold. And then verse 7:

V-7 – And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked into the temple with them, walking, leaping and praising God.

So, this was an amazing miracle that God performed through Peter and John here.

V-9 – And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Verse 10:

V-10 – And they knew it was it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate at the temple. Everybody knew this guy. He’d been lame for 40 years or more. And they were all filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

And notice verse 16 – verse 16, here, of Acts, chapter 3:

V-16 – “And His name” – in Jesus’ name – “through faith in Jesus’ name, this man was made strong, whom you see and know,” is what Peter said. “Yes,” says Peter, “the faith which comes through Him” – through Christ – “has given him” – this man – “this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

It is faith in the name of Jesus Christ that enabled this man to be healed. And notice that being healed by God brings perfect soundness. Of course, perfect soundness of mind, when we’re healed spiritually – when we’re called and converted – but also a perfect healing physically.

So this was a very physical healing that dramatically showed the work of God in His church – in the leadership of His church – there in the first century. As Christians today, we sometimes forget that a great miracle has taken place in all our lives, too. It is one of the greatest miracles of all time – the giving of God’s Holy Spirit.

God works in us through His Spirit. For humans to be changed and led by God’s Spirit is one of the greatest miracles of all. It is truly a germination process, enabling human beings to understand God’s spiritual plan.

So then the book of Acts goes ahead from this point and records many, many miracles that show the power of the Holy Spirit working in this new Church of God. There were more miraculous healings. Prison shackles came undone. Prison doors were opened. Deadly snake bites were rendered harmless. Violent storms on the ocean were stilled. And the church even grew by the thousands quite quickly. But, most of all, the power of the Holy Spirit worked in the minds of God’s people to help them obey His law, to develop their understanding of the gospel of the kingdom, and to grow in faith in Jesus Christ. It truly was a miracle of the mind. It was faith, obedience and understanding.

Look at Romans 16, verse 19. In Romans 16, verse 19, we read about obedience, where Paul told the Romans and encouraged them and congratulated them. He said:

Romans 16:19 – For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore, I am glad on your behalf, but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. So, when it comes to righteousness and goodness, and what is good, know a lot about that. Be wise. Be filled with wisdom on that subject, but be simple concerning evil. Be like a child when it comes to bad things. You don’t want to be educated in what is evil.

But he says, “Your obedience has become known to all.” So through the miracles, through the healings, through the growth of the church, the early church’s faith was strengthened, they became obedient to the law – unlike those in history before them – and they developed a great understanding of God’s plan and His will for them. We read about that understanding in 1 John, chapter 5, verse 20. I’ll read it to you – 1 John 5:20:

1 John 5:20 – And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son, Jesus Christ. And John writes: This is the true God and eternal life.

And so, as these early writers penned their letters to the various congregations throughout the known world, God’s church was to grow in faith, obedience and understanding. We might note, too, that obedience was very important to God when Christ began His church. You’ll recall the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied not just to the men there, but to God. Because of their lying and disobedience, they instantly breathed their last breath. It was a dramatic show of God’s to impress upon our minds and upon the minds of the brethren the importance of taking God’s law seriously. And you can read the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts, chapter 5. Obedience was very important, along with their faith.

So, what was important in the early church? Among many things, it was growing in faith, obedience and understanding. That was all made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What was another major purpose of the early New Testament church? What’s another element that was very important to them? I would say, secondly here, that it was preaching the gospel. The early church held this very dear. And the book of Acts is filled with these people’s lives and the impact they had on the society of their day. The change was so evident – their lives were so transformed – that they were accused of having turned the world upside down. We would say, “Actually, they were turning things right side up,” weren’t they? This was the dramatic, dynamic power of the Holy Spirit.

Look at Acts, chapter 5. I’m going to read, beginning in verse 17. I’ll read it to you, or you can go ahead and turn to Acts, chapter 5, and notice verse 17.

Acts 5:17 – Then the high priest rose up and all those who were with him – which was the sect of the Sadducees – and they were all filled with indignation. Why? We’ll see. And they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night – verse 19 – an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out – brought the apostles out – and said – here’s what the angel told them as they were released from prison – “Go, stand in the temple, and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

So, the angel miraculously opened the prison doors and freed them, and said, “Go and preach the gospel. Go stand in the temple and preach of the kingdom and all you have learned.” And of course, you wonder, “Why did the angel say, ‘Go preach in the temple?’” Well, the temple was the center of town. The temple was not only the center of worship, it was also the center of communication. The temple area was the Internet of the day. It was the broadcast TV of the day. This is where you found out what was going on. This is where you went to meet people. This is where you got the headlines. Like I said, it was the Internet of the day. So, the angel said, “Go and stand in the temple and preach these things. This is where people will hear the message. And verse 21:

V-21 – When the apostles heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest, and those with him, came and called the Council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. They didn’t know they had gotten out yet. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported back, saying, “Indeed, we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Verse 24:

V-24 – Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men, whom you put in prison, are standing in the temple teaching the people. They’re educating them in the way of Jesus Christ. They’re talking about the resurrection. They’re preaching the gospel.” Verse 26:

V-26 – And the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. They were afraid of an uprising. And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council, and the high priest asked them, saying – here’s what the high priest asked the apostles – “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in His name” – in Jesus’ name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man’s – Jesus Christ’s – blood on us.” Verse 29:

V-29 – But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” So, here we see an element of their faith and their obedience. Not only did they have faith in God, but they obeyed the messenger from God when they were told to go preach and teach in the temple. Verse 30, Peter said:

V-30 – The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. He was being pretty direct here. Him, God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Verse 32, Peter said:

V-32 – And we are His witnesses to these things. We’re witnesses of the gospel. And so, also, is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. So not only do we see the faith, we see the obedience required. When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

So, what Peter and the other apostles were preaching and teaching in the temple – in the temple area – was not popular. This was not a popular message. Actually, even today, we find that the message we preach and teach is not popular, especially amongst Christianity in general.

Let’s turn to Acts, chapter 20, and look at another example of the perseverance demonstrated by the early church as they gave all to complete the task given to them – to make sure the gospel message of the Kingdom of God was preached. So here in Acts 20, it’s now the apostle Paul – not the apostle Peter, but now it’s the apostle Paul in Acts, chapter 20, starting in verse 18 – Acts 20, and verse 18:

Acts 20:18 – And when they had come to him – when they had come to Paul – he said to them, “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews, how I kept nothing back that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you – I preached it to you – and taught you publicly from house to house. So Paul was even preaching and teaching the gospel message in church members’ homes, going from house to house – teaching in various church members’ homes. Verse 21:

V-21 - …testifying to Jews, but also to Greeks – testifying repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

V-24 – But none of these things – verse 24 now – but none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God – the gospel of the grace of God. Verse 25:

V-25 – And, indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. So he was departing from them and, actually, heading toward further imprisonment. But he said, “Despite this, I don’t count my own life to be dear. Instead, I earnestly preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God.”

So, it makes us ask ourselves, “How much would you and I be willing to give for the Church of God and to see the truth of God’s Kingdom preached?” Prison? Do we have zeal like the early membership in this regard? So, just like the early church, what should be important to you and me? What should be important to you and me should be, first of all – just like the early church – growing in faith, obedience and understanding. After all, we are the same church. It’s just almost 2,000 years later. We, too, should be growing in faith, obedience and understanding made possible by Jesus Christ living in us – made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. God will fulfill his purpose for you today, just as He did for the early church and the men and women of God before that. And this includes faith, obedience and understanding through Jesus Christ – that God will finish what He has started in us. If we put our faith and trust in Him, if we seek to honor Him in all that we do, then He will fulfill His purpose for each one of us. We find this in first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians – just one verse here that I want to make note of. And that’s Philippians 1, and verse 6. Let me read it to you. It’s a familiar verse – Philippians 1, verse 6.

Philippians 1:6 – …that we should be confident of this very thing, that He, who has begun a good work in you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

God will complete what He has started in us. Sometimes it can seem as if our lives are going nowhere, filled with routine – maybe filled with empty routines. Maybe our plans and hopes are thwarted by an economic crisis, a physical illness even, a lost job, a sick child, or even the death of a child, a family catastrophe, or a broken relationship. And we can become discouraged – fearful that our efforts will add up to nothing. In those times, we can be encouraged that God will, indeed, fulfill His purpose for you and for me. Through all of our trials, we must increase and grow in this faith, increase and grow in obedience and understanding, just like our church forefathers did – just the like the church in the book of Acts did.

A couple of chapters further forward, here in Philippians…in Philippians, chapter 4, verses 6 and 7, is a good place to go – Philippians 4, verse 6. Here Paul writes:

Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing – don’t be overly anxious – but everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

So, when we have trials – when we have issues that we have to deal with – with prayer and supplication, let your requests – your needs – be made known to God. And verse 7:

V-7 – And the peace of God – the peace that comes from God – which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ – or through Christ Jesus, as it says here in the New King James. That understanding will come when we pray and beseech God and give Him our requests.

Put your faith and trust in our Father in heaven. He will perform all things that are needed to insure your salvation. In tough times, He will give you the kind of peace that is even, sometimes, hard to comprehend or understand. Just like the early church, we must be growing in this kind of faith with understanding, knowing that obeying Him will lead to our gift of eternal life.

So what else should be important to us, like it was to the early church? Well, number two, it’s preaching the gospel. It was important to them and it should be important to us as well. Our task is to let the world – all nations, all people – know of the Kingdom of God coming – not when it’s going to come, but that it is coming – and to instruct and give people some hope, because there is precious little hope in this world for mankind. We must give people something to look forward to – some hope. We must not back away from the urgency and the drive to do the work of God. And this is why we’re a part of the firstfruits now. And this role must be taken seriously.

Many people believe that the Kingdom of God has already come, or that it’s in the heart of a particular church, or in the hearts of people. They don’t understand that the Kingdom of God will be a literal kingdom with a headquarters, with a city, with a center in Jerusalem, with leaders and teachers and rulers led by Jesus Christ. It’s actually coming to this earth. Look at Romans 1, verse 16. Let’s go back to the book of Romans for a moment, where Paul says in Romans 1, verse 16:

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes – for the Jew first, but also for the Greek. It’s for everyone. It’s for all nations, all peoples, and, as the plan of God unfolds and we understand it more, we see that all who have ever lived will be given an opportunity to be a part of this salvation – to be offered salvation.

So, Paul said, “Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Just like the early church, we, too, must have a zeal for preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and not be ashamed of it. As we’ve noted before, it’s not a popular message today. In fact, the true gospel has never been that popular.

With our various media efforts, we find that we have the least success in staying on a radio station or a TV station when we choose a religious network to go on. A number of years ago, we had a regular radio program, called The Good News Radio Program. We found that we had the most success on secular news talk stations – the kind of stations that air talk radio, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity – that kind of thing – because those secular stations aren’t so much worried about the message you’re teaching or preaching as they are about receiving a regular payment each week. But when we would go on a religious network, we’d find that just after a week or two, we would get cancelled for some unexplained reason. And it’s because those Christian stations – those religious stations – didn’t like our message. It conflicted with what the rest of their preachers were saying. It’s not a popular message today and has always not been popular.

Let’s go back to the book of Acts again – we’re in Romans – but let’s go back to the book of Acts, chapter 17, and read the first six verses. Here we see, once again, preaching the gospel – Acts 17, verse 1

Romans 17:1-6 – And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went into them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures. Once again, we ask, “Why did he go to the temple? – which was his custom? Because that was the center of information. That was the center of education, and worship, and a good place to preach the gospel – where everyone was gathered. So he reasoned with them for three Sabbaths – verse 3 – explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise and again from the dead – that’s Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection – saying: This Jesus, whom I preach to you, is the Christ. And some of them were persuaded. And a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded became envious – one again, seen as a threat, just like our message is often seen as a threat by other Christian groups – the Jews who were not persuaded became envious – this is verse 5 – took some of the evil men from the marketplace – so they got some of the bad guys – gathered a mob, set all the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason – Jason was a new church member – and sought to bring them out to the people – to drag them out. But when they did not find them – they couldn’t find Paul and Silas – they dragged Jason out, then, and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out – this is in verse 6 of Acts 17 – “These, who have turned the world upside down, have come here, too!” So, the gospel was being preached from city to city, and now it had come to them in Thessalonica, as well. And it wasn’t popular. They were accused of turning the world upside down with this message. And, as we know, they were actually turning Thessalonica right side up, when it came to the truth of God.

So, when faced with these odds – when faced with such opposition – what should we do? If we’re ever dragged before Caesar, or before our nation’s judges and leaders – because of our religious convictions – should we just let the message die? No, not if we follow the example of the apostle Paul and other men and women of God.

I want to go back to the book of Romans again, as we get near to finishing this topic up today – Romans, chapter 10, verses 14 through 17. Romans, chapter 10, beginning in verse 14 – this is a very good question here.

Romans 10:14-17 – How, then, shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? If somebody doesn’t preach the message, how will anyone ever hear us, unless God raises up stones? Verse 15: And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things! Someone has to preach the gospel if anyone is going to hear it. Verse 16: But they have not all obeyed the gospel – it doesn’t always fall on fertile ground – for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then – verse 17 – faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

So, once again, we’ve got our faith, and our obedience, and our understanding, along with preaching the gospel. Christianity is not a popular message today in society, and more increasingly so – less popular – and our version of the gospel is even less popular.

As we now look forward to the Feast of Trumpets and the remaining holy days of this year, please take a moment to think back to the time when the Holy Spirit was first imparted to large groups of people and the Church of God began in earnest. We are now living in the age of the church. Keep in mind the purpose of God’s church. Just as in days of old, we are to be growing in faith, obedience and understanding. And just like the early apostles and disciples, we are to be preaching the gospel of the Kingdom – the good news of the Kingdom of God. Stop and appreciate and imagine what we have been given. Think of the Holy Spirit working in your life, as a baptized member of this, God’s church – one who has had hands laid upon you to receive the Holy Spirit.
Let’s close with a very inspiring few verses from the first book of Peter. It’s 1 Peter, chapter 1. And let’s count our blessings and thank God for what He has given us. In these verses here – 1 Peter, chapter 1, starting in verse 3 is what I want to read, where the apostle Peter said:

1 Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Through Christ’s shed blood and His death, our sins can be forgiven. But through His resurrection now, we have a living hope. Through His life we are saved and have hope. And – verse 4 – to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. This living hope we have leads to our inheritance. We are to inherit all things, as we read in Hebrews. And this is an inheritance that does not fade away. It’s incorruptible. It can’t be stopped. So, maybe your 401k takes a hit when the stock market crumbles, maybe your savings get eaten up by expenses or poor judgment and you could retire with little funds, but this inheritance, that comes from God, is incorruptible, undefiled, will never fade away, and is reserved in heaven for you. This is what the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead leads to for us. Verse 5:

V-5 – We are kept by the power of God through faith – once again, faith is very important to us – faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. So, this promise will be given to us in the last time, which is the end time – and it’s actually upon Christ’s return. Verse 6:

V-6 – And in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. So, we can rejoice in this hope, even if things aren’t always going well for us. Verse 7:

V-7 – That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes – so even gold can eventually be destroyed with enough heat, but not our faith; our faith is more precious than gold – though it is tested by fire, and it may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. So, it’s when Christ is revealed to us – when Christ returns at the last time – the end time – that we will receive this inheritance and this precious gift of eternal life. And Jesus Christ – verse 8 – whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory – so, even though we haven’t seen Jesus Christ yet, we still rejoice and believe – receiving the end of your faith, which – verse 9 – is the salvation of your souls. So where does this faith, obedience, and understanding, and preaching the gospel lead? To the salvation of our souls.

And look at the last part of verse 12 – the last half of verse 12.

V-12 - …things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel. How do we know this? Where do we get this message? How do we understand these words? It’s because of others who have gone before us, preaching the gospel. And it’s to you from the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – that Holy Spirit that gives us that understanding we need to comprehend what God has in store for us – things which angels desire to look into – the great mysteries of life have been made known to us – things that even angels desire to look into.

Let’s all make the most of the coming months, as we look forward to the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and then the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day. As we go through these next three months leading up to the Feast, make sure that you are growing in faith, obedience and understanding, which comes through the power of the Holy Spirit in you, as a child of God – as a son or daughter in God’s family. And support and preach the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God.