The church started with a commission and a command. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Acts 1:4-8 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The empowerment of Holy Spirit is for a purpose. That you might live out your calling, develop your gifting, and be something before Jesus returns for His Church. Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Our desire is to be a channel of the grace of God and enter into multiplication. The lifestyle of participation and multiplication is not the path of least resistance. To live a life of participation and multiplication, you have to stretch, grow, sacrifice and push back on culture. We have to use our time, treasure, and talents to advance the kingdom of God. Multiplication REQUIRES, FAITH, SACRIFICE, and CONTINUAL GROWTH ACTS 2:36-41 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. The empowerment produced fruit, which is a lifestyle that expanded the Kingdom of God and multiplied the church in the first century. Acts 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. New Testament Christianity is a life that has been changed by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and devoted to building HIS CHURCH! Devoted is the Greek word proskartereō. To persevere and not faint, to be constant, attentive and unremitting. To be devoted and stay committed. What are you devoted to? Devotion is where you find the download from heaven! 4 New Testament Church Devotions 1.The apostle's teaching… It is a lifetime commitment to hearing the Word and living your life according to scripture How devoted are you to the Word of God? What do you do when the Word of God contradicts your lifestyle? Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We must conform to the Word and not deconstruct the Bible to fit our lifestyle? To be devoted to the apostles doctrine, they had to conform to the Word when it confronted their lifestyle. **2. Fellowship… ** It’s the Greek word koinōnia Community, doing life with other believers, and committing to the pain and process of building and sustaining relationships. The vision of Destiny church is to create value, build relationships and release the power of the Holy Spirit. Life happens best in groups, and we are better together. Make fellowship a spiritual discipline. **3. Radical Generosity… ** Acts 4:33-35 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. There is no such thing as a stingy spirit filled believer. When you are empowered by the Holy Spirit, you become radical in your giving? 1 Corinthians 10:26 for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.” Haggai 2:6-9 “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.” 4. Sharing the Lord’s Supper… Keeping Jesus and the cross at the center of it all. Communion is all about remembering Jesus. Spiritual disciplines sustain us over the long haul and cause us to live the best version of our lives. They are the result of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:47… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Spiritual disciplines produce multiplication. Spiritual disciplines require empowerment and devotion! A sustained devotion will lead you through a lull and produce a reoccurring empowerment. My desire is that you get empowered to live a life of devotion and that devotion will lead you into a life of empowerment. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. In Acts 2 Those who encountered the Holy Spirit began their spiritual disciplines and look what happens in the next chapter. Acts 3:1-2 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Multiplication and participation happened because of empowerment and devotion.