The disciples were confronted...

 ...with the care of widows in the church so they told the people: Acts 6:3-5 (NKJV) “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip…” The disciples needed help because the church was multiplying. It must be understood between those called into the ministry as pastors and those raised up as the laity, to go from normal to supernatural, there has to be love and co-operation. There has to be Holy Spirit too.

1. Going from Normal to Supernatural Requires Laity to be Spirit-filled. Based on God’s Word, when the church needed people who would serve and truly take care of the widows, they chose people filled with Holy Spirit. Their qualification: Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. No one is telling you not to serve if you do not have these qualifications. What we are saying is to seek God until He baptizes you in Holy Spirit power so that you can be more effective in your ministry.

2. Going from Normal to Supernatural will Require the Laity to be Focused on the Great Commission. Stephen and Phillip were not pastors or missionaries in the traditional sense. They were laity. Hear your pastor, just because God has not called you to be a pastor or missionary does not mean God cannot use you in an amazing way. Stephen, a deacon, full of Holy Spirit, full of power, full of wisdom, being used by God to do signs and wonders. Stephen could have been anything in the church (usher, greeter) but he wanted God to use him. Philip was a deacon but he was being used by God in such an incredible way. Why? Same reason. He was full of Holy Spirit, full of power, full of wisdom, and being used by God to preach the Word.

3. Going from Normal to Supernatural took Philip into a Chariot Ministry. Your ministry as a layman or as a pastor may be a chariot ministry or a golf ministry or shopping ministry but the point is to go from normal to supernatural you must be filled with Holy Spirit and willing to go. In his ministry:

A. Philip was sensitive to hear the voice of the Lord and to do what He said.

B. Philip was observant to what is happening with the person he is trying to share Jesus.

C. Philip was sensitive to know now is the time to preach Jesus.

The disciples are being persecuted...

 ...and much like today the leaders were trying to silence the church. They were bringing persecution until Gamaliel spoke up with wisdom. Acts 5:38-39 (NKJV) “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God." Is what we are doing, as a church, of God or human effort? If it is human effort it will fail but if it is of God, they can’t stop us. Matter of fact, they will find themselves fighting against God. Our Distinctives at Life Church:

1. Our First Distinctive: We should be passionate about the lost. Luke 19:10 (NKJV) “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." What does it mean to be passionate about the lost? It means we love them, pray for them, share with them, and live in such away in front of them that exemplifies Christ.

2. Our Second Distinctive: Home and world missions. Mark 16:15&20 (NKJV) “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” 

3. Our Third Distinctive: Being filled with Holy Spirit. Acts 4:31 (NKJV) “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” The disciples had been initially filled with Holy Spirit power in Acts 2, they are going from normal to supernatural, and they are getting opposition and persecution. They need Holy Spirit power to speak the Word of God with boldness.

4. Our Fourth Distinctive: Generous giving. Acts 2:44-47 (NLT2) “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Generosity was one of the first signs they were Spirit-filled. 

5. Our Fifth Distinctive: Worship. Luke 24:52-53 (NKJV) “And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” Worship will lead you to being baptized in Holy Spirit power.

Today I want to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time...

I want to tell all of you where to go! Matthew 28:18‑19 (NLT) “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Jesus has told us to go and we must be obedient!  First, we must go after God with all of our hearts.  The truth is: we will never go after “them” until we go after Him! Tommy Tenny:  “We must go after God until we catch Him or He catches us!”

Second, we must go after the lost. Ezekiel tells us there is a great and mighty army just waiting to come up out of their graves to be used for God. Ezek 37:13 (NKJV) "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.”  Third, we must go to the church and say it is time to wake up out of your sleep!  Eph 5:14 (NKJV) “Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."  Fourth, we must go after revival! Revival is when you are tired of the status quo and you truly want Jesus to be Lord. It is when you are tired of altars not being filled with those who need salvation, when you want Holy Spirit to lead a service instead of a man, when dry bones come to life, when God’s Word is believed and acted upon with signs following, when children and adults alike are in the altars pouring out their hearts to God. Revival is a blast of the breath of God coming into a church and community changing everything in its path.

Fifth, we must go on to maturity. Hebrews 6:1 (NLT)  “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”  Finally, we must go to the gates of hell and rescue those who are about to fall off the edge. Life Church, Jesus said we must go so we must go! Now you can tell your friends and family your pastor told you where to “go”.