Ups and downs in the Christian life

1. By Acts 2, Jesus has ascended back into heaven.

2. The apostles had been told to “tarry” in the city of Jerusalem (Acts 1:4).

3. 40 days of instruction about the kingdom had been given to the apostles (Acts 1:3).

4. Now these special men were waiting “for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).

5. Jesus explained this promise in Acts 1:5; they would be “baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

6. Had we been among this group we would have probably had mixed feelings.

7. On the one hand, Jesus was saying “goodbye.”

8. After about 3 years of close association, a special friend and leader would no longer be physically present.

9. At the same time, a new helper was on the way. Furthermore,

10. A kingdom was going to come and the apostles were to have a major part in it.

11. The disciples had performed various miracles up to this point.

12. Jesus said they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

13. This must have been a fascinating promise.

LET’S START WITH THE OPENING VERSES – THE SECOND CHAPTER OF ACTS – READ 2:1-2.

a) God’s people were “all together in one place.”

b) It would appear they were enjoying a period of fellowship.

c) In the second verse we read about a sound that may have been like a freight train.

d) A rushing wind is noisy and this filled the house; the Spirit’s coming was very noticeable.

e) Through the Holy Spirit tongues of fire and “sat” upon each apostle (verse 3).

f) Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come with power and He was exactly right.

2) Had we been in this group we may have probably felt pretty good at this point.

3) The apostles were among friends and wonderful (supernatural) things were happening.

4) Although Jesus was no loner on the earth, delight was found in the spirit’s coming.

5) Acts 2:1-4 lists items that can only be classified as pleasurable or enjoyable.

a) When we come to verse 5, things change.

b) Verse 5 – READ.

c) Jews from a wide variety of places had come to Jerusalem.

d) Jews had some special feasts during the year and one of those feasts was Pentecost.

e) The time for Pentecost had come and Jews had flocked to Jerusalem to participate.

f) Sometimes today there are annual festivals or conventions and people from all over go.

g) Such was the case here. We might say there were many people from “out of town.”

6) The commotion made by the Holy Spirit caused a crowd to assemble (verse 6).

7) At first the people in this crowd began to ask questions.

8) No one had ever seen God’s Spirit do what was being done on this day.

9) At one point (perhaps fairly quickly) some turned to criticism instead of seeking answers.

10) Verse 13 –READ.

a) Luke’s description of the mocking is very specific.

b) He used a word that means the mocking was especially strong or extra severe.

c) There was not just a wise crack or two; these people were verbally abusive.

d) The apostles were verbally assaulted.

e) Another low point for the apostles was that they were intoxicated.

f) “New wine” is a word that has surprised some folks.

g) This is not the ordinary word for “new wine.”

h) It is a different term and it seems to describe a drink with a very high alcohol content.

11) If we look at the apostles in this and the following chapters, we find some parallels to modern life.

a) Again and again we have heard people say things like the following:

b) “I made a suggestion and my idea was shot down.”

c) “I spoke up and they made fun of me.”

d) “I tried twice and they didn’t listen either time.”

e) “No one ever pays attention to what I say/believe/think.”

f) God’s apostles were trying to preach, and there were people who tried to shut them down.

g) Evangelists were trying to present their case for Christ and some didn’t want to listen.

12) It can be difficult to work under these kinds of circumstances.

13) This is true in both the secular world as well as within the church.

14) On the day the church started, this is what the apostles faced.

a) God’s spokesmen tried to preach; this opportunity must have been a high point.

b) Then they found people who wanted to mock them; that was not a high point.

15) We also infer from this account that a lot of people didn’t pay attention to the preaching.”

16) Several more could have become Christians but did not choose this way of life.

a) We know about 3,000 unsaved people did become Christians on this feasts day.

b) We also know something else.

c) Thousands of people had their homes in Jerusalem.

d) At this time the regular people were in town but so were many visitors.

e) Acts 2:5 says many extra people were in town—people from the other parts of the earth.

17) Things started out so well on this day, but the apostles hit some roadblocks.

a) Towards the end of the chapter things once again started to get better.

b) There was regular contact with one another (verse 42) and there was unity (verse 44).

c) We find highs and lows for the people of God in the second chapter of Acts.

18) When we turn to the third chapter of Acts, things also look pretty good, at least for a while.

19) Peter and John were able to walk up to the temple.

20) No one was out trying to arrest them or interfere with their work.

a) Two apostles met a man who had been crippled for a long time.

b) Initially the sick fellow looked to the preachers for a free handout; the apostles healed him.

c) This healing interested the crowd and the apostles took the opportunity to teach.

d) Acts 3:12-13 – READ.

e) Just as in the second chapter of Acts, it may have seemed like the apostles were doing well.

f) They had experienced some resistance before, but now things were again pleasant.

g) Notice how the 4^th chapter starts – verses 1-2 – READ.

21) If we had were to continue reading, we would see that two apostles were confined.

a) In verse 21, we find the apostles were released.

b) After this experience we again read about church unity (verse 32).

c) From Acts 2 to Acts 4 we see a key trend.

d) Sometimes the apostles had Christian lives that were “up” (things were good or great).

e) Sometimes things were “down.”

f) Their circumstances sometimes ranged from excellent to very unpleasant.

22) In Acts 5, we go back to a time when things were difficult.

23) There was the situation with Ananias and Sapphira.

24) What happened to this couple could not have been a joyful event in the lives of the apostles.

25) People were becoming Christians and trying to live correctly but here was an exception.

26) A little later in this chapter we come to other difficulties.

a) Because of jealousy (verse 17), apostles were again arrested.

b) By the time of verse 19, we find that an angel appeared and released them.

c) The apostles were picked up again (verse 26) and beaten (verse 40).

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE IDEA THAT IF WE ARE A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN GOD WILL SOMEONE JUST WHISK US AWAY THROUGH LIFE AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY LOW POINTS.

a) This is not what we find in the lives of the apostles and this is not what Christianity offers today.

b) These men had high points but they had also had some low points and very difficult times.

c) Being faithful to God will not insulate us against very serious difficulties.

2) Jesus was perfect in His obedience but not even He always enjoyed high points.

a) This past week I quickly went through the book of Matthew.

b) I looked for high points in the life of the Lord followed by low points.

c) I found a little more than what I initially suspected.

3) In Mt. 2 we have a high point; wise men from the east to worship Jesus (Mt. 2:2).

4) A great earthly honor was bestowed upon the Lord but things soon changed.

5) Mt. 2:13-14 says that Jesus’ parents had to rush Him into the land of Egypt because of a death threat.

a) At the end of Mt. 3 (verses 16-17), Jesus is baptized. Heaven is opened.

b) A voice speaks of being “well pleased” by the Lord.

c) What happens in Mt. 4? The temptations.

6) In Mt. 9 Jesus performed a man and people said such had never before been done (verse 33).

a) That must have made Lord feel pretty good.

b) Then the Pharisees came along and said He did it by Satan’s power (verse 34).

c) Jesus chose to heal a man with a withered hand (Mt. 12:13).

d) Then people went out and made plans to kill Him (verse 14).

7) Jesus was transfigured (Mt. 17:2).

8) From that high point He had to deal with a faithless and perverse generation (verse 17).

9) This past week some of us received calls from someone who was not a member of the church.

a) My sister called and said “Do you know the church of Christ preacher who was shot?”

b) The man who was killed is from a well known family of preachers.

c) This family has experienced many high points in their lives.

d) I know that because I have heard them say so publicly.

e) Many good things have been done by the numerous preachers in this family.

f) While this family has been honored in a variety of ways, they have also had some low points.

g) One of those points was just a few days ago.

10) We need to remember that family in our prayers.

11) This is also a good time to remember that low points will come to all.

12) If we do not do that, we will be at risk for losing our faith.

a) This afternoon I had a chance meeting with a former member of the church.

b) This man is not attending anywhere.

c) We talked for a while; in situations such as this I always encourage people to come back.

d) This man had some low points in his Christian life and he quit.

e) What if the apostles started to hit the lowpoints and said, “We’re done.”

f) What would have been the result?

13) History would have been a lot different.

14) Much of the New Testament may not have been written.

15) When we sign on to become a Christian, we say YES to the good times and the bad.

16) Christianity is a bit like marriage – for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness & health.

17) Just as people do not keep their marriage vows, some do not keep their promise to Christ.

18) What about us? Have we made that initial commitment?