The Spirit Filled Community

Rev Ronald Ooi

The Church did not stop at the resurrection. Nor at the cross. There was the outpouring and baptism of the Holy Spirit. He continues to speak loud and clear. The Holy Spirit was there at the creation of the world. He was brooding over creation. And he was there with the prophets and he came upon the disciples when 120 of them spoke in a language that bewildered them. In the fullness of time, God does the right things. Why were they waiting and who gets drunk at 9 in the morning? They were drunk in the Holy Spirit and they were baptised in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon them and I want to talk about the spirit filled church. The spirit filled community.

I was just interviewed last week by someone doing her PhD and she wanted to talk about the prophet Joel. You can find a lot of info on Joel like the commentaries but her professor wanted her to challenge herself in finding new information on Joel. And she said yes, and she wanted to research on the voice of God. She interviewed me and many other pastors and she said this was information from the original source. Speaking to individuals who have been doing the work of God with the Holy Spirit in our midst.

The early church shouldn't be just called the Acts 2 Church but also the Acts of the Holy Spirit church. It's the original look at the church. This is important because the photocopy you make from the original must look like the original and then you certify it as true copy.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

It's a daily church. Church is not on Sunday morning only but church is in the house group, the PPN, the reaching out to the community.

The church was meant to be a spirit filled community. And it's connected to the kingdom of God. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will come and you will be my witnesses. Jesus was telling them the divine kingdom of God is more important than the present government of men. We become executives and agent in implementing his governance in our community. A community that would submit themselves to the kingly rule of God, men and women who are bound by their sinful nature cannot govern themselves well. Without the Holy Spirit we are but just a shell. No life of God within us to go back to the original model that God meant to be a Spirit led and powered community.

Back then they could do it because they were a spirit filled community.

Firstly, they displayed the love of God to one another and to the world.

Acts 2:45 (NIV)

They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

They saw the need and they were so giving and so gracious. It was not just a Baptism of the Holy Spirit but a baptism of God's love. It was a giving church.

It was also an eating church. The ate together. We don't have a problem as an eating church in Penang I am sure.

What about a praying church, a learning church, a growing church or a miraculous church with sign and wonders.

I was talking to the youth yesterday about a sale that's going on. I better don't mention the place. It's like the new garden of Eden. And they were talking about this brand of clothes. Then the other day, I was at an ice cream shop with the evangelist and Alex found us at Hagaan Daz. Not at McDonalds which is a level 1iice cream but this Hagaan Daz is a higher level. I was hoping he didn't see me. Haha.

Where are we in our level with God. It's progressive and it continues. I'm trying to find a proper English word rather than level but you can see their level of love in their lives. It is God's love shed abroad into their hearts. What is human love and what is divine love?

Level 0. You don't find find Level 0 in elevators and also -1 except at TOP. Level 0 in human love is "I love you because I can get something from you". Next level, Level 1, "I love you because you love me". If you don't love me I don't love you. It's conditional. Level 2 is "I love you even if you don't love me". Have we crossed the level that's more like God's love?

Level 4 is "I love you even if you love someone else". You look at the book of Hosea. The message was his life, Hosea and Gomer. Even though the wife prostituted herself, God told Hosea to bring his wife back. It was like Israel who worshipped other idols, he still loved them.

The next level is "I love you even if you back stab me". Who in the Bible? Judas. Jesus still called him friend. Is it common that you get back stabbed? I'll show you my scars.

Level 5, "I love you even if you hated me". Just like Jesus and the Pharisees who hated him. He was a threat to them.

Level 6, "I love you even if you kill me". Jesus on the cross, Jesus said forgive them because they did not know what they do. Also when Steven was persecuted and stoned. He was one of the men chosen for good governance in the church. He said father forgive them and do not hold this sin against them even as he was killed. That's a high level.

God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Bob from Dalat School was a missionary back then and he lost his life saving a student. They were at the waterfalls and this girls was swept away by a sudden gush of water and Bob dived in and push the girl to safety but he slipped and he was swept over the waterfall. They found him only many hours later.

The highest level of God's love is Hagaan Daz. Maybe I shouldn't be talking about Hagaan Daz because the durian season is coming soon. We used to eat kampung durians and now we have graduated to D15, D9 and I can read your mind, the Musang King. We graduate to a higher level. Can we move to the next level? Will you love them like Jesus love us? That's why the Holy Spirit needs to be here.

They displayed the power of God.

Acts 3:6 (NIV)

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

We see that level where what Jesus did has now been transferred to the apostles. Is it the work of the apostle? No, it was the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit that is using us for his power to flow through. We saw how God moved at the miracle and healing rally and it is God that does it. We move one level more in terms of the display of his power but let's move on to a higher level.

I was talking to Ps Peter and I was trying to connect with his son who was not easy to connect with because also of language. I thought he was a girl because of his long hair at first. He was a miracle child if you have heard of Ps Peter's testimony. They were to abort the child but he is today normal and Penial is a big boy. It's a miracle. If you need a miracle it can happen to you this morning.

Acts 4:33 (NIV)

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

What I like is that Acts chapter 4 goes into chapter 5 and you see two characters. Chapter 4 you saw how the church was loving and generous and then Luke who wrote this next chapter looked at Barnabas. A person whose life was not only transformed but also a life that poured forth the love of God. Then Ananias and Sapphira was mentioned. And I used to think these two should not have been mentioned as it spoilt the early church. But I think in the midst of God's move, they succumbed to greed. So you see the contrast of Barnabas vs Ananias & Sapphira.

You see how one moved from one level to another while the other lied to the Holy Spirit. How can this happen? As I pondered upon this for many years, how can this happen?

God would not allow the original blue print of the early church to be corrupted. It's something for us to learn. Because of the original copy is tainted, all other photocopies will also be tainted.

Let's move from one level to another one at a time. Step by step by step. It took me years to move from the ice cream cone to Hagaan Daz. At the time it's not even ice cream, just ice. Let's move one level at a time. It's never too late.