Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Birthday of the Church

June 4, 2025 | 27:29

Dr. Robert Jeffress discusses the birth of the church in Acts 2, focusing on the supernatural empowerment of the early disciples through the Holy Spirit. He delves into the significance of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, highlighting its role in uniting believers and enabling them to fulfill their mission of spreading the gospel. The message emphasizes the timeless truths of the early church's mission and the importance of being Spirit-empowered believers in today's world.

#SpeakinginTongues #HolySpirit #BodyofChrist #Church #Gospel #Religion #History #Ministry #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Gifting/Talent #Baptism

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Birthday of the Church | June 4, 2025

♪ music ♪
00:00:00.156 --> 00:00:06.429
[announcer] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
00:00:06.429 --> 00:00:08.531
Of dallas, texas, this is pathway to victory
00:00:08.531 --> 00:00:11.501
With dr. robert jeffres.
00:00:11.501 --> 00:00:14.037
Hi, i'm robert jeffres
00:00:14.537 --> 00:00:15.805
And welcome again to pathway to victory.
00:00:15.805 --> 00:00:18.508
To most christians, the church is something
00:00:18.508 --> 00:00:20.443
That has always been around.
00:00:20.443 --> 00:00:22.178
There are new churches, historic churches, large churches,
00:00:22.178 --> 00:00:25.615
Small churches, you name it.
00:00:25.615 --> 00:00:27.550
But sometimes we forget that the church is relatively new.
00:00:27.550 --> 00:00:31.087
In fact, we can point
00:00:31.087 --> 00:00:32.489
To the exact moment in history when it was born.
00:00:32.489 --> 00:00:35.725
My message is titled the birthday of the church.
00:00:35.725 --> 00:00:39.262
On today's edition of pathway to victory.
00:00:39.262 --> 00:00:42.699
♪ music ♪
00:00:42.699 --> 00:00:49.339
[narrator] jesus declared, "you are the salt of the earth
00:00:50.473 --> 00:00:53.276
And the light of the world."
00:00:53.276 --> 00:00:54.711
With so much darkness creeping into our schools
00:00:54.711 --> 00:00:57.113
And communities, now is the time to answer that calling.
00:00:57.113 --> 00:01:00.483
Become the salt and light the world desperately needs
00:01:00.483 --> 00:01:03.419
Through the pathway to victory
00:01:03.419 --> 00:01:04.821
Salt and light matching challenge.
00:01:04.821 --> 00:01:06.923
Your gift today doubled in ministry impact will empower
00:01:06.923 --> 00:01:10.193
Pathway to victory, to proclaim the gospel
00:01:10.193 --> 00:01:12.629
And stand for biblical truth, push back
00:01:12.629 --> 00:01:15.031
And hold strong against moral decline by joining
00:01:15.031 --> 00:01:18.034
The salt and light matching challenge.
00:01:18.034 --> 00:01:22.071
♪ music ♪
00:01:22.405 --> 00:01:29.145
When each of my daughters was born, i had the privilege
00:01:29.145 --> 00:01:33.883
Of being in the delivery room with my video camera
00:01:33.883 --> 00:01:37.353
To record the whole event.
00:01:37.353 --> 00:01:39.756
I was thinking of that this week
00:01:39.756 --> 00:01:41.391
As i prepared the message from acts 2
00:01:41.391 --> 00:01:44.627
About the birth of the church.
00:01:44.627 --> 00:01:46.796
Remember, both acts and luke, the gospel were written
00:01:46.796 --> 00:01:50.667
By a physician, dr. luke.
00:01:50.667 --> 00:01:52.869
And in luke 2, he allows us in the delivery room, the stable
00:01:52.869 --> 00:01:57.840
To see the single most important birth of all time,
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.877
The birth of jesus christ.
00:02:00.877 --> 00:02:03.580
It's fitting then that it was dr. luke who was also the one
00:02:03.580 --> 00:02:08.218
To record the multiple births that occurred
00:02:08.218 --> 00:02:12.121
On the day of pentecost.
00:02:12.121 --> 00:02:14.023
When not just one individual or even triplets were born.
00:02:14.023 --> 00:02:18.595
3,000 people were born again on the same day.
00:02:18.595 --> 00:02:23.533
And the reverberations of that miraculous event
00:02:23.533 --> 00:02:27.437
Still reverberate in our lives today.
00:02:27.437 --> 00:02:30.540
That's what we're going to talk about today
00:02:30.540 --> 00:02:32.475
As we talk about the birthday of the church.
00:02:32.475 --> 00:02:35.411
If you have your bibles turned to acts 2.
00:02:35.411 --> 00:02:38.982
We're studying the account of the early church
00:02:38.982 --> 00:02:43.353
And its mission to take the gospel into all the world.
00:02:43.353 --> 00:02:47.390
And this week and next week, we're going
00:02:47.390 --> 00:02:49.459
To look at acts 2, what we call the day of pentecost.
00:02:49.459 --> 00:02:53.863
And there's an overriding theme i want you to write down.
00:02:53.863 --> 00:02:56.566
It's not on your outline,
00:02:56.566 --> 00:02:57.900
But this is the theme of both this week's
00:02:57.900 --> 00:02:59.902
And next week's message.
00:02:59.902 --> 00:03:01.904
If we desire to be a supernatural church,
00:03:01.904 --> 00:03:04.474
One that turns the world upside down with the gospel,
00:03:04.474 --> 00:03:08.411
There are three characteristics of a supernatural church.
00:03:08.411 --> 00:03:12.248
It is spirit-empowered, it is christ-centered,
00:03:12.248 --> 00:03:17.954
And it is mission-focused.
00:03:17.954 --> 00:03:20.857
And today, we're going to look at the first
00:03:20.857 --> 00:03:23.259
Of those three characteristics.
00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:24.994
A true supernatural church is spirit-empowered.
00:03:24.994 --> 00:03:30.867
Now, to get the setting for what we're going
00:03:30.867 --> 00:03:33.269
To look at today, let's rewind the tape just a few verses
00:03:33.269 --> 00:03:37.240
Back to acts 1:4-8.
00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:41.044
Remember, jesus has been resurrected from the dead.
00:03:41.044 --> 00:03:45.148
He spent 40 days with his disciples on earth teaching them
00:03:45.148 --> 00:03:48.451
About the kingdom of god.
00:03:48.451 --> 00:03:49.786
He's ready to ascend into heaven.
00:03:49.786 --> 00:03:53.089
And verse four says, "gathering them together.
00:03:53.089 --> 00:03:55.992
Jesus commanded them not to leave jerusalem
00:03:55.992 --> 00:03:58.961
But to wait for what the father had promised,
00:03:58.961 --> 00:04:02.198
Which jesus said, 'you heard from me for john baptized
00:04:02.198 --> 00:04:06.269
With water, but you will be baptized
00:04:06.269 --> 00:04:09.072
With the holy spirit not many days from now.'
00:04:09.072 --> 00:04:13.009
So when they had come together,
00:04:13.009 --> 00:04:14.777
That is on the mount of olives,
00:04:14.777 --> 00:04:16.612
They were asking him saying,
00:04:16.612 --> 00:04:18.081
'lord, is it at this time you're going
00:04:18.081 --> 00:04:19.849
To restore the kingdom to israel?'
00:04:19.849 --> 00:04:21.718
He said to them, 'it's not for you to know the times
00:04:21.718 --> 00:04:24.487
Or the ethics which the father has fixed
00:04:24.487 --> 00:04:26.856
By his own authority,
00:04:26.856 --> 00:04:28.691
But you shall receive power when the holy spirit
00:04:28.691 --> 00:04:32.528
Has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses
00:04:32.528 --> 00:04:35.365
Both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria
00:04:35.365 --> 00:04:38.234
And even to the remotest part of the earth.'"
00:04:38.234 --> 00:04:42.438
After jesus ascends into heaven
00:04:42.438 --> 00:04:44.640
Before their very eyes, they returned to that upper room
00:04:44.640 --> 00:04:47.677
Where they had been and they did two things.
00:04:47.677 --> 00:04:51.280
They prayed, but they also selected a replacement apostle
00:04:51.280 --> 00:04:55.752
For judas and now they were ready
00:04:55.752 --> 00:04:59.155
And waiting for the coming of the holy spirit.
00:04:59.155 --> 00:05:02.325
We see the fulfillment of the promise
00:05:02.325 --> 00:05:04.761
Of the holy spirit beginning in verse one of acts 2.
00:05:04.761 --> 00:05:08.164
"and when the day of pentecost had come,
00:05:08.164 --> 00:05:12.301
They were all together in one place."
00:05:12.301 --> 00:05:15.405
Now the word "pentecost,"
00:05:15.405 --> 00:05:17.907
It's a transliteration of the greek word pentecostal,
00:05:17.907 --> 00:05:21.210
Which means 50, 50th.
00:05:21.210 --> 00:05:24.781
The day of pentecost was one of the jewish feast.
00:05:24.781 --> 00:05:28.351
It was known as the feast of the harvest,
00:05:28.351 --> 00:05:30.987
And it came 50 days after the passover.
00:05:30.987 --> 00:05:35.425
Remember at the passover,
00:05:35.425 --> 00:05:37.326
That is when jesus was crucified for our sins.
00:05:37.326 --> 00:05:42.198
And the jewish celebration of passover
00:05:42.198 --> 00:05:46.135
Meant that hundreds of thousands,
00:05:46.135 --> 00:05:47.703
If not millions of jews had come to jerusalem
00:05:47.703 --> 00:05:50.807
To sacrifice the lamb for the passover.
00:05:50.807 --> 00:05:54.310
And then 40 days or 50 after that, they were there
00:05:54.310 --> 00:05:59.081
For the celebration of pentecost.
00:05:59.081 --> 00:06:01.284
Probably some people stayed over
00:06:01.284 --> 00:06:03.386
Who had traveled long distance to celebrate
00:06:03.386 --> 00:06:06.189
Both of those feasts.
00:06:06.189 --> 00:06:08.191
When the day of pentecost had come,
00:06:08.191 --> 00:06:10.193
Now think about it, they had been with jesus for 40 days
00:06:10.193 --> 00:06:15.031
After the passover until he was ascended into heaven.
00:06:15.031 --> 00:06:19.302
So this means 10 days after that,
00:06:19.302 --> 00:06:23.005
10 days after the ascension,
00:06:23.005 --> 00:06:25.007
They were all together in one place praying verse two,
00:06:25.007 --> 00:06:28.945
"and suddenly," not incrementally,
00:06:28.945 --> 00:06:31.781
But suddenly, "there came from heaven,
00:06:31.781 --> 00:06:34.283
A noise like a violent rushing wind,
00:06:34.283 --> 00:06:37.887
And it filled the whole house where they were sitting."
00:06:37.887 --> 00:06:40.523
They were in that upper room, they were praying
00:06:40.523 --> 00:06:43.025
And out of nowhere, they hear this violent,
00:06:43.025 --> 00:06:46.262
What sounds like a rushing wind
00:06:46.262 --> 00:06:48.064
And it filled the whole house.
00:06:48.064 --> 00:06:49.532
And then look at verse three,
00:06:49.532 --> 00:06:50.833
"and there appeared to them tongues as of fire
00:06:50.833 --> 00:06:55.471
Distributing themselves and they rested on each of them."
00:06:55.471 --> 00:07:00.309
There were about 120 people.
00:07:00.309 --> 00:07:02.478
Luke tells us in that upper room, the earliest disciples
00:07:02.478 --> 00:07:05.915
Of the lord including mary, the mother of jesus.
00:07:05.915 --> 00:07:09.685
And it looked like a fire from heaven came down
00:07:09.685 --> 00:07:12.388
And then it separated into 120 different tongues
00:07:12.388 --> 00:07:16.926
Resting on each of those individual disciples.
00:07:16.926 --> 00:07:21.197
And what is it they were experiencing?
00:07:21.197 --> 00:07:24.033
They were experiencing what had been promised
00:07:24.033 --> 00:07:26.636
For hundreds of years,
00:07:26.636 --> 00:07:28.004
The baptism with the holy spirit of god.
00:07:28.004 --> 00:07:31.107
Now, you may be saying,
00:07:31.107 --> 00:07:32.308
"where do you get that out of this?"
00:07:32.308 --> 00:07:33.476
It doesn't say baptism with the spirit.
00:07:33.476 --> 00:07:35.711
As we'll see in a moment,
00:07:35.711 --> 00:07:37.113
When peter looked back on this experience later,
00:07:37.113 --> 00:07:39.715
He referred to it as the baptism with the holy spirit.
00:07:39.715 --> 00:07:43.185
Remember, jesus had promised in acts 1:5
00:07:43.185 --> 00:07:46.055
"john baptized with water, but you will be baptized
00:07:46.055 --> 00:07:50.026
With the holy spirit not many days from now."
00:07:50.026 --> 00:07:54.130
And it was exactly 10 days later that this happened.
00:07:54.130 --> 00:07:57.934
Remember in acts 11 when peter
00:07:57.934 --> 00:08:02.038
Was trying to convince the jews that gentiles
00:08:02.972 --> 00:08:06.943
Were now capable of being saved too?
00:08:06.943 --> 00:08:08.477
He talked about the experience he had witnessed
00:08:08.477 --> 00:08:11.414
When he preached to a group of gentiles.
00:08:11.414 --> 00:08:13.716
In acts 11:15, it says, "as i peter began to speak,
00:08:13.716 --> 00:08:17.954
The holy spirit fell upon them
00:08:17.954 --> 00:08:20.456
Just as he did upon us at the beginning."
00:08:20.456 --> 00:08:25.094
Peter was looking back to this day of pentecost.
00:08:25.094 --> 00:08:28.064
That's when the holy spirit fell upon us,
00:08:28.064 --> 00:08:30.399
And i remembered the word of the lord, how he used to say,
00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.703
"john baptized with water,
00:08:33.703 --> 00:08:35.538
But you will be baptized with the holy spirit."
00:08:35.538 --> 00:08:38.574
Ladies and gentlemen, this had been a promise
00:08:38.574 --> 00:08:40.509
That god's people have been waiting for
00:08:40.509 --> 00:08:42.945
For hundreds of years.
00:08:42.945 --> 00:08:44.213
Even in the old testament, jeremiah 31:33,
00:08:44.213 --> 00:08:48.184
"god said, 'this is the covenant which i will make
00:08:48.184 --> 00:08:51.053
With the house of israel
00:08:51.053 --> 00:08:52.421
After those days declares the lord,
00:08:52.421 --> 00:08:54.724
I will put my law within them
00:08:54.724 --> 00:08:57.426
And on their heart i will write it and i will be their god.
00:08:57.426 --> 00:09:01.097
They will be my people.'"
00:09:01.097 --> 00:09:02.732
In other words, there's coming a time
00:09:02.732 --> 00:09:04.367
When my people won't obey me
00:09:04.367 --> 00:09:06.736
Because of a list of laws on a stone tablet.
00:09:06.736 --> 00:09:09.705
My law will be written on their heart.
00:09:09.705 --> 00:09:11.474
I will indwell my people.
00:09:11.474 --> 00:09:13.342
That's the promise of the holy spirit of god.
00:09:13.342 --> 00:09:16.912
What is the baptism with the spirit?
00:09:16.912 --> 00:09:20.016
Let me give you this definition
00:09:20.016 --> 00:09:21.751
Because it's key to understanding what this is
00:09:21.751 --> 00:09:24.687
And what it is that happens to us as well.
00:09:24.687 --> 00:09:27.523
The baptism with the holy spirit, write this down,
00:09:27.523 --> 00:09:30.693
Is the supernatural act of god
00:09:30.693 --> 00:09:34.196
In which christ immerses believers
00:09:34.196 --> 00:09:37.366
With the holy spirit joining them to himself
00:09:37.366 --> 00:09:40.970
And to other christians.
00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:43.439
It is a total immersion of our lives with the holy spirit
00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:47.977
Of god and when we are baptized with the holy spirit,
00:09:47.977 --> 00:09:51.347
We are joined together with the body of christ.
00:09:51.347 --> 00:09:54.717
Baptism with the spirit is how we become joined together
00:09:54.717 --> 00:09:57.787
With the head of the body, jesus christ
00:09:57.787 --> 00:10:00.156
And by the other parts of the body,
00:10:00.156 --> 00:10:02.324
Fellow christians as well.
00:10:02.324 --> 00:10:04.527
One corinthians 12:13 says,
00:10:04.527 --> 00:10:06.662
"for with one spirit, we were all baptized into one body,
00:10:06.662 --> 00:10:12.768
Whether jews or greek, slaves or free,
00:10:12.768 --> 00:10:14.770
And we were all made to drink with one spirit."
00:10:14.770 --> 00:10:18.507
And that leads to the question, who receives the baptism
00:10:18.507 --> 00:10:22.478
With the holy spirit?
00:10:22.478 --> 00:10:23.846
Will you notice in this upper room
00:10:23.846 --> 00:10:25.648
Where the 120 were praying.
00:10:25.648 --> 00:10:28.050
When the holy spirit fell, he fell upon each one
00:10:28.050 --> 00:10:33.422
Of those disciples.
00:10:33.889 --> 00:10:35.758
And when did this happen?
00:10:36.325 --> 00:10:37.893
What is the timing of the baptism with the holy spirit?
00:10:37.893 --> 00:10:40.763
It's when we're saved.
00:10:40.763 --> 00:10:42.264
Again, 1 corinthians 12:13,
00:10:42.264 --> 00:10:44.133
"for with one spirit we were all baptized into one body."
00:10:44.133 --> 00:10:49.472
There were no corinthians who were sitting around the church
00:10:50.673 --> 00:10:51.974
Waiting for the holy spirit yet to come.
00:10:51.974 --> 00:10:54.677
He came at the moment of salvation.
00:10:54.677 --> 00:10:58.447
Now, i know there's some of you bible students
00:10:58.447 --> 00:11:00.182
Who are probably saying, "well, wait a minute, pastor,
00:11:00.182 --> 00:11:02.351
Aren't there some times in the bible when the holy spirit
00:11:02.351 --> 00:11:05.221
Came after a person's conversion?
00:11:05.221 --> 00:11:08.991
Didn't he come sometimes a long time
00:11:08.991 --> 00:11:11.794
After their conversion?"
00:11:11.794 --> 00:11:13.863
There are only three times in the book of acts
00:11:13.863 --> 00:11:16.665
Where it appears that the holy spirit came later.
00:11:16.665 --> 00:11:22.004
Let's look at those real quickly.
00:11:22.772 --> 00:11:24.306
The first time is in the passage we're looking at right now,
00:11:24.306 --> 00:11:26.208
Acts 2:1-4.
00:11:26.208 --> 00:11:28.077
These 120 disciples who were in the upper room,
00:11:28.077 --> 00:11:31.113
They had been following jesus christ for three years
00:11:31.113 --> 00:11:35.551
And yet, they had not been filled
00:11:35.551 --> 00:11:37.019
With the holy spirit of god.
00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:38.854
Why is it that the holy spirit came later?
00:11:38.854 --> 00:11:41.524
Well, that's easy.
00:11:41.524 --> 00:11:42.858
Jesus told us that the spirit couldn't come
00:11:42.858 --> 00:11:45.227
Until he went back into heaven.
00:11:45.227 --> 00:11:47.363
And so there had to be a one time when the holy spirit came.
00:11:47.363 --> 00:11:51.467
It was a one time coming
00:11:51.467 --> 00:11:54.303
After christ descended into heaven.
00:11:54.303 --> 00:11:58.474
The second instance of a delay in the coming
00:11:58.474 --> 00:12:01.310
Of the holy spirit is found in acts 8:14-17.
00:12:01.310 --> 00:12:06.649
There were some people who lived in samaria
00:12:07.550 --> 00:12:09.084
Who became christians.
00:12:09.084 --> 00:12:10.953
They trusted in christ,
00:12:10.953 --> 00:12:12.655
But the holy spirit did not come immediately.
00:12:12.655 --> 00:12:15.758
In fact, he didn't come into their lives
00:12:15.758 --> 00:12:18.460
Until the jewish leaders of the church, peter, john,
00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:22.932
And others came to visit them in samaria.
00:12:22.932 --> 00:12:25.734
Only then did the holy spirit come.
00:12:25.734 --> 00:12:28.571
Why is that?
00:12:28.571 --> 00:12:29.939
Remember, the samaritans were half jews.
00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:32.708
They hated the jews and the jews hated them.
00:12:32.708 --> 00:12:36.846
And it was inconceivable to the jewish apostles
00:12:36.846 --> 00:12:40.082
That god would save samaritans.
00:12:40.082 --> 00:12:43.018
And it was inconceivable to the samaritan christians
00:12:43.018 --> 00:12:45.855
That they would be under the authority of the jewish leaders
00:12:45.855 --> 00:12:48.924
Of the church.
00:12:48.924 --> 00:12:50.159
And so to create the unity
00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.927
And to show how the church was a whole new organism,
00:12:51.927 --> 00:12:56.065
God waited to give the holy spirit until the jewish leaders
00:12:56.065 --> 00:12:59.935
Of the church could come to samaria
00:12:59.935 --> 00:13:02.071
And witness for themselves a fact.
00:13:02.071 --> 00:13:04.106
They had been baptized with the holy spirit.
00:13:04.106 --> 00:13:06.408
It was also a way of saying to these samaritan christians,
00:13:06.408 --> 00:13:09.111
You are under the authority of the church
00:13:09.111 --> 00:13:11.580
Even though it's jewish leaders.
00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:13.849
There was a unique reason for waiting.
00:13:13.849 --> 00:13:16.685
The only other time there's a delay between salvation
00:13:16.685 --> 00:13:19.722
And the baptism with the spirit
00:13:19.722 --> 00:13:22.791
Or there appears to be a delay is in acts 19.
00:13:22.791 --> 00:13:26.729
This is so interesting to me.
00:13:26.729 --> 00:13:28.464
Remember in verses one to seven,
00:13:28.464 --> 00:13:30.165
The apostle paul was traveling
00:13:30.165 --> 00:13:31.800
Through the upper region of ephesus
00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.535
And he came across a group of men,
00:13:33.535 --> 00:13:36.038
And like any evangelist, he wanted to know
00:13:36.038 --> 00:13:38.240
Whether they were saved or not,
00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.009
Whether they knew christ as savior.
00:13:40.009 --> 00:13:42.411
He asked these samaritans, "have you been baptized
00:13:42.411 --> 00:13:46.181
With the holy spirit?"
00:13:46.181 --> 00:13:48.217
To him, that was the norm.
00:13:48.784 --> 00:13:50.286
That was the greatest sign whether you're saved or not,
00:13:50.286 --> 00:13:52.421
Because the norm for every christian is if you're saved,
00:13:52.421 --> 00:13:55.357
You've been baptized with the spirit.
00:13:55.357 --> 00:13:57.192
How did they answer that question?
00:13:57.192 --> 00:13:58.694
They said, "we don't know what you're talking about.
00:13:58.694 --> 00:14:00.329
What holy spirit?"
00:14:00.329 --> 00:14:02.231
Paul thought, "hmm, we've got a problem here."
00:14:02.231 --> 00:14:05.935
So he says, "what now? have you been baptized?"
00:14:05.935 --> 00:14:09.305
"yeah."
00:14:09.305 --> 00:14:10.139
"and to whose baptism?"
00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:11.941
"we're baptized by john the baptizer."
00:14:11.941 --> 00:14:14.977
Oh, that's the problem.
00:14:14.977 --> 00:14:18.314
No, you have to be identified
00:14:18.314 --> 00:14:21.350
With jesus, baptized with jesus gospel.
00:14:21.350 --> 00:14:25.220
That's the problem.
00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.522
The reason they hadn't received the holy spirit
00:14:26.522 --> 00:14:28.023
Is they weren't saved yet.
00:14:28.023 --> 00:14:29.291
They were followers of john the baptist,
00:14:29.291 --> 00:14:31.193
But not of jesus christ.
00:14:31.193 --> 00:14:33.362
He preached the gospel to them.
00:14:33.362 --> 00:14:35.397
They were saved and they were immediately baptized
00:14:36.432 --> 00:14:39.435
With the holy spirit of god.
00:14:39.435 --> 00:14:41.503
Since acts 19, the pattern is the same.
00:14:41.503 --> 00:14:44.673
Every true believer was baptized
00:14:44.673 --> 00:14:47.543
With the holy spirit of god.
00:14:47.543 --> 00:14:50.813
Now look at verse four.
00:14:51.313 --> 00:14:53.615
"the sign of the baptism with the holy spirit."
00:14:53.615 --> 00:14:56.852
The sign of the baptism with the holy spirit.
00:14:56.852 --> 00:14:59.388
Now, they were in the upper room when they received
00:14:59.388 --> 00:15:01.757
The baptism with the holy spirit.
00:15:01.757 --> 00:15:03.993
In that white space, look at it in your bible,
00:15:03.993 --> 00:15:06.662
The white space between verse three in verse four,
00:15:06.662 --> 00:15:09.965
I think something happened that's not recorded,
00:15:09.965 --> 00:15:14.303
But it's inferred.
00:15:14.303 --> 00:15:16.538
And that is they moved from the upper room
00:15:16.538 --> 00:15:19.508
To the temple area.
00:15:19.508 --> 00:15:23.379
You say, how do you know that?
00:15:24.013 --> 00:15:26.015
Because when we get to verse four,
00:15:26.015 --> 00:15:28.083
They're obviously in the presence of unbelieving jews.
00:15:28.083 --> 00:15:32.054
So something happened, the unbelieving jews
00:15:32.054 --> 00:15:34.289
Weren't a part of the upper room.
00:15:34.289 --> 00:15:37.226
They went down the hill from where we think
00:15:37.226 --> 00:15:40.062
That upper room is to the temple area
00:15:40.062 --> 00:15:42.731
Where there were thousands and thousands
00:15:42.731 --> 00:15:44.800
And thousands of jews there to celebrate
00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:47.536
The feast of pentecost.
00:15:47.536 --> 00:15:50.239
Look at verse four,
00:15:50.239 --> 00:15:51.907
"and they were all filled, controlled with the holy spirit
00:15:51.907 --> 00:15:55.677
And they began to speak with other tongues
00:15:55.677 --> 00:15:58.013
As the spirit was giving them utterance.
00:15:58.013 --> 00:16:01.316
Now, there were jews living in jerusalem devout men
00:16:01.316 --> 00:16:04.653
From every nation under heaven.
00:16:04.653 --> 00:16:08.457
Some had moved to jerusalem permanently.
00:16:08.457 --> 00:16:10.692
Some were there for the pentecost celebration.
00:16:10.692 --> 00:16:15.097
And when the sound occurred, the crowd came together
00:16:15.097 --> 00:16:18.667
And they were bewildered because each one of them
00:16:18.667 --> 00:16:21.503
Was hearing them speak in his own language.
00:16:21.503 --> 00:16:25.307
They were amazed and astonished saying,
00:16:25.307 --> 00:16:27.543
"why are not all these who are speaking galileans?
00:16:27.543 --> 00:16:31.980
And how is it that we each hear them in our own language
00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:36.985
To which we were born?"
00:16:36.985 --> 00:16:39.555
This is the first instance in the bible
00:16:39.555 --> 00:16:42.891
Of what we call speaking in other tongues.
00:16:42.891 --> 00:16:47.162
Did you know by the way,
00:16:47.162 --> 00:16:48.630
Speaking in tongues is only mentioned in three books
00:16:48.630 --> 00:16:51.467
Of the new testament?
00:16:51.467 --> 00:16:53.268
In mark when it's prophesied that it would happen,
00:16:53.268 --> 00:16:57.139
In acts when it did happen.
00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:59.341
The only other book after acts is 1 corinthians
00:16:59.341 --> 00:17:03.745
When it became a problem in the church,
00:17:03.745 --> 00:17:06.348
It is not a major theme in the bible whatsoever.
00:17:06.348 --> 00:17:11.186
Now, what i want you to see is
00:17:11.186 --> 00:17:14.256
That the first instance in speaking in tongues
00:17:14.256 --> 00:17:17.526
Without a doubt was the ability to speak in a language,
00:17:17.526 --> 00:17:21.563
A real language that you didn't know.
00:17:21.563 --> 00:17:25.067
They spoke in other tongues.
00:17:25.067 --> 00:17:27.669
This passage says heterosglosis.
00:17:27.669 --> 00:17:30.472
Other languages, it's plural.
00:17:30.472 --> 00:17:33.342
If this is a heavenly language
00:17:33.342 --> 00:17:35.577
That nobody can understand, there's only one.
00:17:35.577 --> 00:17:37.846
It would be tongue singular.
00:17:37.846 --> 00:17:40.349
There aren't many heavenly languages.
00:17:40.349 --> 00:17:42.551
There's one.
00:17:42.551 --> 00:17:43.919
But interestingly, most people agree with that,
00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:46.822
That the first instance of the book
00:17:46.822 --> 00:17:49.291
Of speaking in tongues is the ability
00:17:49.291 --> 00:17:51.727
To speak an actual language.
00:17:51.727 --> 00:17:54.363
What people need to answer the question,
00:17:54.363 --> 00:17:56.431
The question they need to answer is how did it change fro
00:17:56.431 --> 00:17:58.834
From that into a private prayer language?
00:17:58.834 --> 00:18:00.936
Well, i'll answer that in just a few moments,
00:18:00.936 --> 00:18:03.772
But the original gift of tongues was the ability
00:18:03.772 --> 00:18:06.842
To speak in a language you didn't know
00:18:06.842 --> 00:18:08.844
And it served two purposes.
00:18:08.844 --> 00:18:10.379
Number one, the propagation of the gospel.
00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:14.082
Look at verse six, "and when this sound occurred,
00:18:14.082 --> 00:18:16.718
The crowd came together and were bewildered
00:18:16.718 --> 00:18:19.521
Because each one of them
00:18:19.521 --> 00:18:20.856
Was hearing them speak in his own language."
00:18:20.856 --> 00:18:23.091
Apparently, what happened was these disciple disciples
00:18:23.091 --> 00:18:26.061
Who had been baptized with the holy spirit,
00:18:26.061 --> 00:18:28.063
Left the upper room.
00:18:28.063 --> 00:18:29.298
They came to the general area of the temple
00:18:29.298 --> 00:18:31.967
And they were witnessing.
00:18:31.967 --> 00:18:33.302
They were speaking of the mighty acts of god
00:18:33.302 --> 00:18:35.737
To these jews from other countries in the empire
00:18:35.737 --> 00:18:39.675
That couldn't speak hebrew.
00:18:39.675 --> 00:18:42.044
They were there and the way they heard the gospel
00:18:42.044 --> 00:18:45.847
Before peter stood up to preach as we'll see.
00:18:45.847 --> 00:18:48.150
Next time was individuals were speaking to them
00:18:48.150 --> 00:18:50.919
In a language they could understand.
00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:53.822
Secondly, the authentication of the apostles,
00:18:53.822 --> 00:18:57.726
1 corinthians 12:12.
00:18:57.726 --> 00:18:59.294
"the signs of a true apostle are performed among you
00:18:59.294 --> 00:19:02.598
With all perseverance signs and wonders and miracles."
00:19:02.598 --> 00:19:06.034
The ability to speak in a language they didn't know
00:19:06.034 --> 00:19:08.937
Was a supernatural proof
00:19:08.937 --> 00:19:12.007
That these apostles were truly speaking the word of god.
00:19:12.007 --> 00:19:15.010
I mean, think about it.
00:19:15.010 --> 00:19:16.278
These apostles were saying to jews
00:19:16.278 --> 00:19:18.747
That what you've been following
00:19:18.747 --> 00:19:20.148
For the last 1,500 years is no longer valid.
00:19:20.148 --> 00:19:24.119
There's a new way, a new covenant,
00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:26.555
A new arrangement with god.
00:19:26.555 --> 00:19:28.423
How did they know these people were speaking truth?
00:19:28.423 --> 00:19:30.626
How did they know they really were god's representatives?
00:19:30.626 --> 00:19:34.196
It was their ability to perform signs and wonders.
00:19:34.196 --> 00:19:37.566
Today, the way we judge whether the pastor
00:19:37.566 --> 00:19:40.569
Is speaking god's truth
00:19:40.569 --> 00:19:41.970
Is not whether he can raise people from the dead
00:19:41.970 --> 00:19:43.905
Or speak in tongues or do miracles.
00:19:43.905 --> 00:19:46.208
It's whether or not i teach according to the bible.
00:19:46.208 --> 00:19:50.412
But in those early days, there was no new testament.
00:19:50.412 --> 00:19:52.914
There was no way to judge the authenticity of an apostle.
00:19:52.914 --> 00:19:58.287
Whatever you believe about tongues, understand this,
00:19:58.287 --> 00:20:01.490
That after corinthians where it was only dealt with
00:20:01.490 --> 00:20:03.792
In a problem since, you never hear of the gift
00:20:03.792 --> 00:20:06.295
Of tongues again in the new testament.
00:20:06.295 --> 00:20:08.664
Never talked about in romans the treatise
00:20:08.664 --> 00:20:11.099
Of the christian faith.
00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:12.401
It's never mentioned in any of the epistles
00:20:12.401 --> 00:20:14.836
And the last epistles, paul's 2 timothy
00:20:14.836 --> 00:20:17.572
Or 2 peter, not a word about it.
00:20:17.572 --> 00:20:20.175
It was a temporary gift mainly for the propagation
00:20:20.175 --> 00:20:24.079
Of the gospel and the authentication of the apostles.
00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:28.417
And it was a prelude
00:20:28.417 --> 00:20:30.319
To what we're going to see next week is the first.
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:33.755
And the greatest sermon ever preached.
00:20:33.755 --> 00:20:37.759
Now, let me close today with two timeless truths
00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:41.029
That these early verses in acts 2 teach us today.
00:20:41.029 --> 00:20:44.933
First of all, write this down.
00:20:44.933 --> 00:20:47.269
As a church, we have been given the same mission
00:20:47.269 --> 00:20:50.972
As the early church.
00:20:50.972 --> 00:20:52.974
We have the same mission.
00:20:52.974 --> 00:20:54.676
The mission statement is still operational.
00:20:54.676 --> 00:20:57.346
We are to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
00:20:57.346 --> 00:21:01.917
No, we don't have the ability
00:21:01.917 --> 00:21:03.352
To speak in languages we don't know,
00:21:03.352 --> 00:21:05.887
But we've got even greater gifts and abilities.
00:21:05.887 --> 00:21:09.424
I mean, just think about technology we have
00:21:09.424 --> 00:21:12.027
That the early church didn't have.
00:21:12.027 --> 00:21:13.895
Transportation, we have that the early church didn't have,
00:21:13.895 --> 00:21:18.633
But it's all for the same purpose.
00:21:18.633 --> 00:21:20.302
We harness that and use it for the propagation
00:21:20.302 --> 00:21:23.505
Of the gospel, we have the same mission.
00:21:23.505 --> 00:21:27.242
Secondly, as individual believers, we have been baptized
00:21:27.242 --> 00:21:31.646
With the same spirit as the apostle.
00:21:31.646 --> 00:21:35.851
We're all baptized into the same body
00:21:35.851 --> 00:21:38.220
And we have the same holy spirit.
00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:40.088
And ladies and gentlemen, you don't have to beg, barter,
00:21:40.088 --> 00:21:42.791
Or plead with god to give you his holy spirit.
00:21:42.791 --> 00:21:45.794
He gives that holy spirit to you the moment you are saved.
00:21:45.794 --> 00:21:50.599
And that holy spirit of god is available to you right now
00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:54.169
To do supernatural works in your life
00:21:54.169 --> 00:21:57.038
That far exceeds speaking in another language.
00:21:57.038 --> 00:22:00.509
You say, "what are you talking about?
00:22:00.509 --> 00:22:02.477
What supernatural things can god's spirit do through me?"
00:22:02.477 --> 00:22:06.715
Well, first of all, he provides you a peace,
00:22:06.715 --> 00:22:09.284
A supernatural peace when the world
00:22:09.284 --> 00:22:11.219
Around you is collapsing.
00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:13.088
He gives you the supernatural power to say no to sin.
00:22:14.156 --> 00:22:17.225
Sin has no more power over your life than you choose
00:22:17.225 --> 00:22:20.262
To allow it to have.
00:22:20.262 --> 00:22:22.164
The holy spirit of god gives you boldness to speak
00:22:22.164 --> 00:22:25.066
The word of god, with power to somebody
00:22:25.066 --> 00:22:27.969
Who needs to hear it.
00:22:27.969 --> 00:22:29.538
It's that holy spirit of god that gives you that assurance
00:22:29.538 --> 00:22:33.108
That one day god will redeem your body when you die.
00:22:33.108 --> 00:22:37.345
Again, the question is not.
00:22:37.345 --> 00:22:39.915
Do you have all of the holy spirit?
00:22:39.915 --> 00:22:41.716
The question is, does he have all of you?
00:22:41.716 --> 00:22:45.654
You know in 2 peter 2:13, peter says,
00:22:45.654 --> 00:22:49.458
"by god's divine power, he has granted
00:22:49.458 --> 00:22:53.895
To you everything you need for life and godliness.
00:22:53.895 --> 00:23:00.368
That everything you need
00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:04.005
For a supernatural life, an abundant life
00:23:04.005 --> 00:23:08.977
Is the holy spirit of god."
00:23:08.977 --> 00:23:12.247
♪ music ♪
00:23:12.581 --> 00:23:17.853
Our subject for the entire month is unstoppable power,
00:23:17.853 --> 00:23:22.390
And i hope you'll continue to join me
00:23:22.390 --> 00:23:24.426
For this study about the boldness of our brothers
00:23:24.426 --> 00:23:27.529
And sisters in christ who witnessed the birth of the church.
00:23:27.529 --> 00:23:32.067
Now in closing, i want to invite you
00:23:32.067 --> 00:23:33.902
To participate in the salt and light matching challenge
00:23:33.902 --> 00:23:37.572
That just launched this week.
00:23:37.572 --> 00:23:39.875
From now through july 6th, every gift you give
00:23:39.875 --> 00:23:42.878
To pathway to victory will be matched
00:23:42.878 --> 00:23:45.280
And therefore doubled an impact until we reach the goal
00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:49.351
Of $1 million.
00:23:49.351 --> 00:23:50.919
That's a large number for any one person,
00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:53.688
But through the combined efforts
00:23:53.688 --> 00:23:55.524
Of our pathway to victory family, i'm confident we can reach
00:23:55.524 --> 00:23:59.361
And even exceed the goal.
00:23:59.361 --> 00:24:01.596
Together, let's be the salt and light.
00:24:01.596 --> 00:24:03.698
Our nation and our world desperately need.
00:24:03.698 --> 00:24:06.768
Preserving what is good and driving out darkness in a world
00:24:06.768 --> 00:24:10.805
That grows morally darker by every day.
00:24:10.805 --> 00:24:14.476
I believe that when we proclaim the gospel
00:24:14.476 --> 00:24:16.811
And stand for biblical truth,
00:24:16.811 --> 00:24:18.947
We can push back against the moral decline in our world.
00:24:18.947 --> 00:24:23.285
Thank you in advance for your generous support
00:24:23.285 --> 00:24:25.720
Of pathway to victory.
00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.789
Now stay right there.
00:24:27.789 --> 00:24:29.057
I'll be back with more in just a moment.
00:24:29.057 --> 00:24:32.727
Is fear holding you back from sharing your faith?
00:24:33.762 --> 00:24:36.531
Millions of christians have the desire,
00:24:36.531 --> 00:24:38.633
But lack the courage to speak up.
00:24:38.633 --> 00:24:40.669
With god's holy spirit, you can become unstoppable.
00:24:40.669 --> 00:24:44.239
Our enemy hates for the church to grow, not just in numbers,
00:24:44.239 --> 00:24:48.176
But in it's influence for the gospel.
00:24:48.176 --> 00:24:50.612
And he will do everything he can to stop it.
00:24:50.612 --> 00:24:54.015
So we must do everything we can to stop him.
00:24:54.015 --> 00:24:57.485
In my faith-building book, "unstoppable power",
00:24:57.485 --> 00:25:00.755
You'll discover how to call upon the holy spirit
00:25:00.755 --> 00:25:03.491
To be your confidence in any situation.
00:25:03.491 --> 00:25:07.128
In his best-selling book, unstoppable power,
00:25:07.128 --> 00:25:09.931
Dr. robert jeffress reveals how you can boldy proclaim
00:25:09.931 --> 00:25:13.401
The gospel with the same confidence the apostles had.
00:25:13.401 --> 00:25:16.471
You're invited to request the book, unstoppable power,
00:25:16.471 --> 00:25:19.608
When you give a generous gift to the pathway to victory
00:25:19.608 --> 00:25:22.444
Salt and light matching challenge.
00:25:22.444 --> 00:25:24.479
And when your gift is $75 or more,
00:25:24.479 --> 00:25:27.349
You'll also receive the companion study guide,
00:25:27.349 --> 00:25:30.085
Along with the complete unstoppable power
00:25:30.085 --> 00:25:32.420
Teaching series on dvd video and audio disc.
00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:35.957
We face the same kind of growing opposition
00:25:35.957 --> 00:25:40.028
In the 21st century as those 1st century christians experienced.
00:25:40.028 --> 00:25:45.367
That opposition was no match for the power of jesus christ.
00:25:45.367 --> 00:25:49.738
Remember, your gift today will have twice the impact
00:25:49.738 --> 00:25:52.607
Thanks to the pathway to victory
00:25:52.607 --> 00:25:54.275
Salt and light matching challenge.
00:25:54.275 --> 00:25:56.211
Thank you for partnering with pathway to victory
00:25:56.211 --> 00:25:58.947
As we boldly proclaim the gospel in a world
00:25:58.947 --> 00:26:01.716
That has lost it's way.
00:26:01.716 --> 00:26:04.753
At pentecost, the holy spirit
00:26:05.387 --> 00:26:07.622
Indwelt the bodies of every true believer in jesus christ
00:26:07.622 --> 00:26:12.627
And every new christian since then is also baptized
00:26:12.627 --> 00:26:16.364
With the holy spirit.
00:26:16.364 --> 00:26:18.166
This is why we celebrate the birthday of the church.
00:26:18.166 --> 00:26:22.337
Now earlier, i said
00:26:22.337 --> 00:26:23.738
That a true supernatural church is spirit empowered.
00:26:23.738 --> 00:26:28.143
And next time, we're going to discover
00:26:28.143 --> 00:26:29.978
Why a supernatural church is also christ-centered.
00:26:29.978 --> 00:26:34.649
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:34.649 --> 00:26:36.217
Of what's coming up next in our series, unstoppable power.
00:26:36.217 --> 00:26:40.255
Isn't it interesting that god chose peter to be the one
00:26:41.389 --> 00:26:46.094
To deliver the first message?
00:26:46.094 --> 00:26:47.629
Isn't it amazing that god chose peter to be the leader
00:26:47.629 --> 00:26:50.598
Of the apostles?
00:26:50.598 --> 00:26:52.167
I mean, think about peter.
00:26:52.167 --> 00:26:53.401
He wasn't qualified.
00:26:53.401 --> 00:26:55.303
He was a human gaff machine.
00:26:55.303 --> 00:26:57.138
Did you know that?
00:26:57.138 --> 00:26:58.606
I mean, he was always putting his foot in his mouth.
00:26:58.606 --> 00:27:00.909
In fact, his foot was in his mouth
00:27:00.909 --> 00:27:02.243
More than it was on the ground.
00:27:02.243 --> 00:27:03.745
Mistake after mistake after mistake,
00:27:03.745 --> 00:27:06.581
And yet, god chose him.
00:27:06.581 --> 00:27:09.384
[narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
00:27:10.318 --> 00:27:12.487
For the message, the greatest sermon ever preached
00:27:12.487 --> 00:27:15.990
Here on pathway to victory.
00:27:15.990 --> 00:27:18.026
♪ music ♪
00:27:18.026 --> 00:27:18.026

Robert Jeffress - The Birthday of the Church

June 4, 2025 | 27:29

Closed captions

Share