• 1. The church should excel at hospitality. (Acts 21) • :4 - And finding disciples we stayed there seven days. • :7 - We came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. • :8 - On the next day we entered the house of Philip the evangelist...and stayed with him. • :17 - When we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. • Acts 21:5 And they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. • The brethren received us gladly. Acts 21:17 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 • Hospitality is an openness to others and a willingness to let them into your life. • 2. The Prophetic needs to be active in the church. (Acts 21) • Acts 21:4 They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. • Acts 20:22-23 I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem...the Holy Spirit telling me that chains and tribulations await me. • To be surrendered is to have your heart bound to the will of God by the Spirit of God. • 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. • When man is in the prophetic equation there’s always an element to it that can be tainted. Prophecy is spoken in human words through a human mind. (1 Corinthians 13:12) • 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. • Don’t build your life on a prophecy but on Jesus and the Word of God. (Ephesians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:19) • God HAS spoken (Bible) and STILL speaks (prophetic). God wants to speak TO you and THROUGH you. • Prophecy. • Gift of revelation. • A Holy Spirit given ability to receive a divinely inspired message from God and deliver it to others. • Communicates the heart, mind and will of God into the lives of others as His Spirit directs. • Always brings encouragement, strength or comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3) • Acts 21:11-14 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” • Prophecy can reveal God’s will in a particular situation or season. God speaks how He sees you and/or what He has for you. • God is good and has a way of bringing good things even out of wrong turns. (Or no turns!) • Prophecy is a reflection of Jesus. (Revelation 19:10) • When it comes to Prophecy - • Does it exalt Jesus? • Does it agree w God’s Word? • Does it turn people to Jesus? • Does it produce good fruit? • Acts 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. • God calls, gifts, anoints and sets apart both men and women, both young and old. His revelation and purposes are to be experienced and collectively stewarded amongst generations. • God wants our lives characterized by : • His presence. • His love. • His voice. • Acts 21:19-25 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” • 3. The church is called to walk in holiness and grace. • Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality. • FLEE! • Sexual immorality. (1 Corinthians 6:18) • Idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14) • Evil things. (1 Timothy 6:11) • Youthful lusts. (2 Timothy 2:22) • 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. • The Holy Spirit EMPOWERS you to put OFF the old nature and put ON the new nature. • The focus of the church must be on Jesus and His Gospel of grace. • Acts 21:25 Keep self from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. • Luke 17:1 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! • Let’s not make it difficult for people to follow Jesus. • Gossip is a deadly trap. • Undermines and ruins community • Sabotages unity. • Divisive. • Sows distrust, anger and offense. • Harms and destroys relationships. • Foolish, false, evil and ungodly. • Acts 21:27-28 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” • An US vs THEM mentality, insiders vs outsiders, has no place in the church. New Testament Christian Church CCLI : #1600893 Multitracks New Testament Christian Church (#386429)