The Foundation (Part A)

John 17 verse 20 Jesus speaking as I do not break these along, but also for those who will believe in me through their word that goes beyond just preaching the gospel, the gospel of the story of salvation, but what about discipleship to be a saint to be separated to Christ. I need to know that I'm not going to stumble in the Christianity nor will I stumble into perfection, thought, work, this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with a brand-new message called the foundation in acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2 beginning in verse 42. They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles know all who believed were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 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, praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. The foundation that's the title the foundation because that is what verse 42 is in that one verse we have the gospel and everything to do with the gospel and the believers they continue to do what got them this far. Since the ascension of Christ. Since Peter preached that sermon, beginning with Joel and then going to the Psalms in the life of David all about Jesus Christ. They continued key to the victorious Christian life to fruitful Christian life to a life that can withstand the fiery darts. Paul said it this way to the Galatians, having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh you came to Christ, you responded to the spirit you submitted to him. You trusted him you depended on him.

You look to his word for guidance in life and then he says are you so foolish that you think you going to do better without God's word. Without God's way you come this far, only to depart from what brought you this far. Well, the apostles, not departing there sticking to it and were going to find that many of the believers at this point are going to continue steadfastly. My pastor repeated this verse from Galatians 33 he stressed it at almost every pastors conference. He was so concerned that the pastors would depart from the spiritual dependence on the word and on God and look to the means and methods of men to grow their churches and sadly many of them just it did not register. Does God word does the preaching of God's word register with you doesn't mean anything when you hear these things regardless of how much they bite, or encourage, they mean something to you. Do you get it or is it just going in one ear and out the other is you only want to hear what you've already decided to agree with well each one's going to have to decide that for themselves.

I also say this "Galatians Ike I hope often enough, having begun in the spirit. I will not be perfected as a Christian. If I get into the flesh, and depart from the spirit and I watched some he'd and eyewash others failed to heed and I've distanced myself from those who don't heed. You know, we like to say. Can two walk together, unless they are agreed until it really gets down really gets down to the facts of what we must agree on. Not those emotional choices that we all tend to make emotions can inflict us so heavily to the point we get flashbacks that we don't want to have. You gotta fight your own emotions if you going to continue steadfastly we going to given the something else, something like I used to like that guy, but I don't anymore. Many times, not because they did something immoral just didn't do what you liked and this is a battle in life. And Satan knows it. These apostles did not change, appease or accommodate anyone anyone they stuck to the message they were more interested in pleasing Jesus Christ, and anyone else that Peter is going to be shaken by this later on. He's going to want to appease and accommodate and change for the Jews that come up from Jerusalem to Antioch and Paul is going to stand up and say I'm not appeasing anybody I'm not accommodating anyone.

This is the truth you know what Barnabas knows it and you've departed from it. Now what are you going to do corrected himself human rights later want listen to what Paul has a safe it's deep what he has to say what because he does not depart from the spirit he sticks with the things that of the gospel. Peter saw converts over 3000 of them because of the Scripture. Because of the spirit because of the fact and the truth that belong to that Stephen will die doing the same thing. Stephen is not going to back down from them. God told Ezekiel I'm going to make your head harder than their heads.

They want to but heads I'm going to make you prevail. We should as Christians understand these things.

We go into the workplace and the school schools and when we find ourselves.

Our head is harder than their head and I know that you do to Revelation 3 verse 10 this church in Philadelphia was one of us was two of seven that Jesus singled out two of seven that stood their ground that had their hard heads against the lesser hard heads. Revelation 310 because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world. He goes on to say because you have kept my word, they did not depart, having begun in the spirit hold to the apostles teachings and be ready to rumble with any Christian, the things they know better than the Bible. And when it says there Christian and thinks they can do it better than the what the Bible and was seen is all over the place, a line that thick line that separates those Christians and churches that are looking to observe and obey what the Scripture has to say and those who are looking for cultural ways to identify which sinners the line is getting thicker. The old covenant was not in the blood of Christ, the new covenant is your New Testament Christians and we don't go forward without the Old Testament we take both of them, but we understand the old because of the new because of our relationship with the one who died for us on the cross, we gotta be very clear about that. Our identity who are you if you were stripped of everything you have, what would you be left with.

Hopefully it is your testimony in Jesus Christ and I would ask the same thing for me. Pastor follows the sheep that is not the pastor is one of the sheep in our times of the past is going to say things and do things that the sheep won't like don't break formation a talk about a some immoral sin under some emotional thing. Satan knows that he picks off believers all the time.

I look at some that used to belong to a good church and now they don't do anything because the time came when their feelings were hurt the source of I promise you stick around. I'm going to do something you don't like is amazing how many fathers want their wives and children to submit and obey to them but they won't due to the authority in the church. That's a disconnect something wrong with that.

I cannot let heretics bad doctrine sin.

I'm talking about the things that are within the sphere of the pastor. This is how we get things done well. Verse 42, and they continue steadfastly in apostles doctrine fellowship in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. They here referred to in verse two are the believers they apostles and the believers.

This was the foundation of the First Christian Church.

This was their foundation. It is to be the foundation. I believe a very church because in that doctrine of the apostles is the gospel is the truth is, everything from Genesis 11 to the end of the revelation of Christ that is the apostles doctrine, their teachings that they receive from Christ himself. If you can get that one in into here to it, you are on the path of righteousness.

This is the case because there's nothing as good and there's nothing better the gospel of Jesus Christ and alternate foundations are heretical. They are false foundations, they will collapse. They make take you as far as death, but they going to fail you. After that, and that's why John for example, takes to task the gnostics that were infiltrating the church not too long after these events taking place here in Jerusalem as the church began to spread out to the Gentile world. The gnostics began attacking in the apostles did not stand for that. That's why we have them attacking it back counter attacking in their epistles. It says here continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine are five basic activities. The first one is devotion. They continue it's not devotion if you only stick to it as you like it. It's devotion when you know what's right even if you don't like. That's devotion batch loyalty and that's what it takes devotion, the apostles teachings the Fellowship, the communion which God is saying, you know, fellowships not enough. You need to expand that to have fellowship with me in the midst of fellowship with your brothers and sisters. I need to be there.

It's not enough to turn the church into a place where people gather and exchange renal social niceties is the place of Christ. That's what the communion table says the communis is this is about him. His blood, his body broken bled, said for us. That's what the communion table is and that's what the going to continuing and of course there's prayer. Why write a book on prayer we know what prayer is is talking to God is getting things done in this life and conversation with God. It includes the supplication asking for supplies petitions asking for things that you need to things that you don't have never had need intercessory prayer I'm ahead of myself. It was still on continuing steadfastly in the apostles doctrine.

Paul said to Timothy, you must continue. You must be steadfast.

You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. Timothy's been through the fires with Paul is a seasoned pastor by this time and Paul is still concerned about him. You have to continue Satan wants to pick you off your flesh will cooperate with Satan far faster than it will ever cooperate with anything coming from Christ and you need to know these things and be reminded of these things follow their teachings, one has to worship God in spirit and in truth it's not enough to quote Scripture.

Satan can do that is just no truth when he scored when he quoted his application is false. So we must look to make sure with that facts are right.

That's what Peter did when he said this is what the prophet Joel spoke of the early church did more to make converts then at this point, the early church did more than make converts they may disciples they they they attracted other people to be like them to learn the Christian life to join them.

It's not enough to make a convert is, what if you converted them to the knowledge of Christ. But the still a lot of flesh hanging out there needs to be more than needs to be an education a schooling that needs to be some time in the trench with other believers who been there before.

This is one of the beautiful things about the church you find this anywhere else will find her sitting at home in your living and got to come to church to the assembly and get your lumps like the rest of us. This is life but this not only lumps is a lot of love in the Christian body you just go on Zeno my car broke on there be people come to God like you have an extra car, I can loan you a car you need. What I do for you given the chance to love. I will say they will not. There's a stubbornness of Christianity is quite disgusting.

It will not wash the pastor's truck. This is something that has got to change. Getting getting well in the spirit, I'm kidding, but in the flesh. I'm very serious to follow their teachings, not emotional is not soon as you would warms my heart's not enough for me.

There is that with truth, but is also that with lies and if you are one of those folks that is emotionally driven. You probably don't care about other people's emotions. If they don't match yours. You notice that, but I feel it yet, but I don't feel it in fact I feel is wrong and that's where class begins and is helpful to be mindful of these things is let you learn that as life goes on. You know the other person. Maybe I give them the benefit of the doubt, sometimes maybe they're not up to no good. Maybe just you know having a bad day.

Maybe they just missed the did with that sermon last week we do something, maybe just not getting it. And if for example you can tell somebody listen.

Lighting candles will not draw you closer to God. It will melt wax but it will not draw you closer to God and some people emotionally invested in this kind of double get upset with you for saying something like that.

The apostles, those were the leaders of the early church there and in Christ appointed our leaders also in the leaders. They were they were united in one accord. The church was centered on them as people goal. John 17 verse 20 Jesus speaking. He says I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word that goes beyond just preaching the gospel, the gospel of the story of salvation, but what about discipleship to be a saint to be separated to Christ. I need to know that I'm not going to stumble in the Christianity nor will I stumble into perfection. It's hard work. The apostles will initially it meant in its strictest meaning the 12 apostles will 13 one forfeited the position. Initially they were the handpicked men of Jesus Christ. No human being had anything to do with their appointment as these early authorities in the church and is as I've said before, you do better to support the pastor of event to criticize all of us would that I would say this to any church. I would say this to a family member that lived in another state or another country that were attending a church. If you find the church of God is led you to.

He's led you there to support not to break down and it is it's just not, it's not something that comes to us. Naturally, I discovered well in the strict sense. They were disciples. God gave the Old Testament prophets. But he added apostles to the New Testament church in take away the prophets added the apostles that is significant. He was saying you know you the Old Testament law as beautiful as it is, as I have authored it. It's just not enough to tell the world about me and my immersing the believers in the Holy Spirit and the work that we have to do, and if there was enough I would not give you the New Testament, but he has and Paul had to fight every inch of the way to get this truth into the heads of the Jewish people that just had a difficult time breaking from this. Again, that's the entire Hebrew letter. The letter to the Romans.

The letter to the Galatians is scheduled loaded with these these arguments from the apostle Paul of these truth Ephesians 2, having been built on the foundation of the apostles.

This is our foundation. This is what we stand upon what we build upon. Without it, nothing goes upward and stays upward, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone that chief cornerstone does not exercise his will, apart from his people. That's how he set it out in the end, of course, even start employing angels again, but right now it's the ministry of the church. These are the apostles of Jesus Christ. Jude says this yours little D just wanted to talk about the gospel with the Holy Spirit, said to him, I need you to deal with some heavier things right now in the church there saved with it being corrupted and he deals with that the creeps coming into the church and then he writes but you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember their words it will go on to single out that they were warning the church about scoffers, but it is a general statement that stands by itself. Remember the words that were first spoken by the apostles and when you pick up your New Testament. That's what you're reading the words spoken by the apostles. Even Mark and Luke, who were not apostles were under the authority of apostles Mark under Peter Luke and Paul and these things just cannot be dismissed.

When we look at with the adverse 43 just for a moment and there we read, then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles's big you can't. You should not even want to shrink this down should be thank you Lord for taking men like me and and using them in such of a large way. The first Christians accepted this, but again the heretics are coming, they will not stand for. Just like you. You find a good church. Satan is not going to stand for that is going to come out.

You you should be ready to not be ambushed and if you are, you should know how to respond to an ambush and is never pretty is not the you know the dance of the Nutcracker is very ugly. Well then there are apostles in the church in a broader sense that our apostles of the church, not of Jesus Christ. Because apostle means one was sent out.

Will Jesus pick 13 to send out with this authority. Second Corinthians 8 if anyone inquires about Titus. He is my partner and fellow worker concerning you, or if our brethren are inquired about they are apostles of the church, the glory of Christ.

That's second Corinthians 813 it's translated in the King James version.

The new King James as the messengers, but it is the identical Greek word, they are apostles of the church. Those whenever the church sends people out on a mission. They are in that sense, sent out without authority. The doctrine again. That's what Jesus taught them. This is the doctrine of the apostles is not something they came up with. I used to think that before became a Christian I should think the guys are set up under a tree and philosophize about God, philosophy, human philosophy is guessing it's all guesswork. Sometimes I get a ride most of the nuclear and now with the Internet. We got them everywhere. You know how many experts are out there, man, this is to take one course and that is to put a video and teach you how to do it is ridiculous. Who would trust her Internet. Dr. Lynette never went to med school or anything like that and and spent time in the trenches in the ERs of the hospitals around the world, but just felt that you know I really care about people and what's what's bothering you stick your tongue out. Would you go to that God Enesco's role out of the trade.

Well anyway, back to this. What is the purpose of doctrine. This teaching that is so upheld in Scripture wanted to get us to please God by lining up with God by being on his side sharing his views, his opinions and submitting ourselves to his authority without submission.

There cannot be salvation, we must submit these apostles there doctrine was formed by direct teaching and contact with Jesus Christ. Not only did they get the words of Christ. They got the facial expressions and the hand gestures and the body motions to Jesus said it's a big deal.

They saw that and they didn't write about that. They didn't say. And at that point he squinted, it would be nice sometimes right but then it would limit what was being said. Luke's gospel 24 verse 27 and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them and all the Scripture the things concerning himself that's there doctrine met with a got it from.

This is what he sent them out and authority to have. It is almost impossible to over emphasize doctrine, the teaching of God's word, the doctrine of the apostles.

It is what we call the Bible because again the Old Testament makes no sense without someone coming along and illuminating it for us. It is the Holy Spirit and he uses people. This is the case with the Ethiopian unit who said who does this man speak about himself or someone else is reading Isaiah 53 and Philip comes up and he expounds the Scripture to him and what was the result action is water. What stops me from being baptized. Phillips that if you believe if you believe in. He did believe in the was baptized when Solomon dedicates attempt brings in the ark of the covenant that David danced before with all of his might. Because that Ark of the covenant represented so much more than the temple could ever mean to the people because of the presence of God.

The presence of God is what meant everything to David, not the ark of the government covenant that was just a point of contact. Well, what was in what originally in the days of Moses, there was that rod of Aaron that but it is that it was his dead stick.

It was a dead stick and it brought forth right almonds to show that he was God's man of authority and you better not mess with the same power that made this rod blood can go upside your head. Blood that's part of the lesson because there was a revolt against Moses and his brother so serious was got up out of the ground opened up and swallowed up people. The other thing in the ark was the pot of man of the provision of God the bread of life with those two. By the time Solomon dedicates the temple by the time David dances before the articles to not in there and there's only one thing left from the days of Moses the word of God.

That's it written on stone by the finger of God. Isaiah 40 verse eight. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever. That's what that meant and a righteous Jew would've made that connection.

Thus, the nation was to continue in the doctrine of God. The problem is we continue based on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply visit cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick you could subscribe to cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of acts right here on cross reference radio