It is a wonderful relief and encouragement to know that Bishop Jakes has recently “crossed over” to rejoin evangelicals in affirming the triune nature of the God-head.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2012/01/25/elephant-room-2-live-blog-session-4/

Driscoll: We all would agree that in the nature of God there is mystery. But within that, for you, Bishop Jakes, the issue is one God manifesting Himself successively in three ways? Or one God existing eternally in three persons? What is your understanding now? Which one?

Jakes: I believe the latter one is where I stand today. One God – Three Persons.

Driscoll: Do you believe the Bible is the perfect, infallible Word of God? Do you believe God is Three Persons? Jesus is fully God and fully Man? He died on the cross for our sins? He rose from the dead? He is coming again? Apart from Jesus is no salvation?

Jakes: Absolutely

MacDonald: The issue of the Trinity is not a small thing. It is central to Christianity and a pillar of orthodoxy.

C3 Discipleship Process

Jesus did it. Wesley did it. You can too.

Jesus’ 3-Strand Discipleship

The most effective manner to train and equip people for any skill is by providing effective models and opportunities to practice the skill itself. Jesus used a show, tell, release, and supervise model of training. Jesus ministered to the multitudes (crowd), the 12 (cell), and the inner circle of 3 (core). After calling the disciples, He took them along with Him, teaching and healing the sick as He went. Then, after He thought the disciples had seen and learned enough to try for themselves, He commissioned, empowered, instructed, and sent them out to do the same things. This discipleship process should be no different for those desiring to bring others into a complete understanding and walk in Christ-likeness.

John Wesley’s 3-Strand Discipleship

In 1743 John Wesley created a 3-strand discipleship model, a company of people having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they might help each other to work out their own salvation. The 3 groups were called societies (crowd), classes (cell), and bands (core).

C3 Discipleship Process

The C3 discipleship process can be integrated into any church using all 3 strands or by launching stand-alone Core Groups. It can be used by any Christian church as a roadmap and adapted to fit any church expression or in small groups or for individual study. In addition to the process, we also provide free resources to assist you in equipping the saints.

Strand 1: Crowd

Size: 50+ people; this is typically the large gathering of people for corporate worship
Purpose: To bring about a change in knowledge
Focus: celebration – worship.

Wesley’s society or crowd group included those in a geographical area, much like a typical, congregational meeting in today’s church. These large groups of people met once a week to pray, sing, study scripture, and to watch over one another in love. However, as is true of today’s corporate church gathering, there was little or no provision made at this level for personal response or feedback.

Strand 2: Cell

Size: 5-16 people
Purpose: To bring about behavioral change; conduct
Focus: community – fellowship.

Wesley’s class or cell group was the most basic group structure of the society. The class was composed of 12-20 members, both sexes, mixed by age, social standing and spiritual readiness, under the direction of a trained leader. It was not a gathering for academic learning. They met weekly in the evening for mutual confession of sin and accountability for growing in holiness. This group provided the structure to more closely inspect the condition of the flock, to help them through trials and temptations, and to bring further understanding in practical terms to the messages they had heard preached in the public society meeting. Membership in a class meeting was non-negotiable. If you wanted to continue in the society you had to be in a class. In 1742 in one society in London there were 426 members, divided into 65 classes. Eighteen months later that same society had 2,200 members, all of whom were in classes. Every week each class member was expected to speak openly and honestly on the true state of his or her soul. This strand closely resembles today’s cell groups, small groups, life groups, etc.

Strand 3: Core

Size: 3 or 4 people
Purpose: To bring about a change of direction, heart and position; knowledge, character and conduct
Focus: committment – discipleship.

Wesley’s band or Core was made up of 4 members, all the same sex, age, and marital status. This was a voluntary group of people who professed a clear Christian commitment, who desired to grow in love, holiness, and purity of motive. The environment was one of ruthless honesty and frank openness. There were specific rules about punctuality and order within the meeting. He introduced accountability questions which everyone answered openly and honestly in the meeting each week. Bands became the training ground for future leaders. This group held to extreme confidentiality in a “safe place”, mutual submission where matters of indifference were yielded to the released leader, and godly stewardship. This was the group that could intensively pursue goals and vision together. There is a strong case to be made for churches to review, adapt and integrate a 3-Strand Discipleship Process into their expression. It begins with the Bible, is supported by sociological evidence, makes sense from an organizational standpoint, and has been proven successful for thousands of years.

Biblical Evidence

"One standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Biblical Evidence for 3-Strand Discipleship

Scripture paints a clear picture of a God who not only lives in community but embraces and seeks after it. First, with Adam (Gen.1:26), then with the people of Israel (Deut.6:4) and finally in the Godhead itself (John 1:1-3). There is power in a cord of three and this concept runs throughout God’s Word. Since God Himself lives and works in community, and we are made in the likeness of God, then we too are created to live in and for community. To be human is to hunger for community.
Additionally, Jesus and the disciples modeled a closely knit community. Christ Himself came to provide community and live with us (Mth. 1:23) and then He called a small group of disciples to live and walk with Him (Mark 3:7-10,13-14). Jesus knew that the multitudes had great needs, but chose to minister to the twelve and especially the three (Peter, James and John). By walking with and training a few, He ultimately transformed many lives.
This cord of three strands is Christ’s highest dream for His Church. It is seen in His prayer for us that we may be one as He and the Father and Holy Spirit are one (John 17:11). Additionally, Christ sees our unity and community as our message to the world that He came and that He is love, and if we, the Church, fail at community, we fail our mission (John 17:21, 23).

Relational Evidence for 3-Strand Discipleship

There is relational evidence that God created us to crave relationships and community:
• God wants us to seek a relationship with Him (Acts 17:24-27)
• God wants us to have relationships with others (Genesis 2:18)
• God reveals His emotions to us (Ephesians 4:30; Zephaniah 3:17)
• God intervenes when we can’t communicate (Romans 8:26-27)
There is also blessing that comes from community:
• Strength for storms of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
• Wisdom for making good decisions (Proverbs 15:22)
• Confidentiality and accountability for spiritual health (Proverbs 27:17)
• There is strength, reliability and assurance in community (Proverbs 18:24)

Structural Evidence for 3-Strand Discipleship

As churches are planted to accomplish God’s work in the world, organization becomes a necessity to ensure community. The Core Discipleship process and groups are a way to ensure that this done in a life-giving manner by “doing life together” – everyone is cared for and no one cares for too many (not more than four). Just as is true in a natural family, the Core Discipleship Process enhances spiritual parenting to ensure that no one stands alone, struggles alone, serves alone, develops alone, seeks alone, or grows up alone.
The Core Discipleship Process and groups are a God-ordained way to provide infrastructure within any church to assure the development of disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), where the workload is shared (Exodus 18:9-22), where everyone receives care (Acts 6:1) and where leadership can be determined, equipped and repeated (Titus 1:5).
Finally, the Core Discipleship Process provides a structure for “mutual membership” to promote unity in the body (Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16), a sense of belonging to one another (Romans 7:2-4) and a place to edify, bless, grow, serve and challenge each other through the exercise of each person’s spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:12-27).

Next: The Core Discipleship Process: The Master’s Discipleship Plan

Church: 3-Strand Discipleship Process

Strand 1: Crowd

Size: 50+ people; typically large gathering
Population: Mixed gender
Purpose: To bring about a change in knowledge
Focus: Celebration/worship

Strand 2: Cells (Life, Home, or Small Groups)

Size: 5-16 people; typically in homes
Population: Mixed gender usually
Purpose: To bring about behavioral change; conduct
Focus: Community/fellowship

Strand 3: Core Groups

Size: 3 or 4 people
Population: Same gender (see process)
Purpose: To bring about a change of direction, heart and position; knowledge, character and conduct
Focus: Commitment/discipleship – intentional, relational, reproducible

Core Groups specifically embrace the Great Commandment and the Great Commission by focusing on the imperative to make disciples found in the Great Commission as they are taught to "…observe all that I commanded you"(Mth. 28:20). This is accomplished as we build life-long relationships in the context of safe and confidential groups of no more than four disciples, men with men and women with women. Core Groups are not accountability groups or smaller, small groups. Core Groups develop students and adults who commit their lives to Jesus Christ and are willing to follow Him as presented in the pages of God’s Word. From the very beginning, Core members are held accountable to begin praying for two to come to Christ and for someone they are called to disciple.

Core Key Values

There are 5 key values emphasized within a Core Group: Matthew 22:37-40(Great Commandment); Matthew 28:19-20 (Great Commission); Acts 2:42;Ephesians 4:11-16, and 2 Timothy 2:2.

1. Love: Great Commandment

The first foundational value of a Core Group is the pursuit of the Great Commandment – our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationship with others (Mth. 22:37-40).

2. Christ-likeness: Great Commission

The second foundational value is the pursuit of Christ-likeness as we observe the Great Commission (Mth. 28:18-20). It is our desire to be genuinely conformed to the character of Jesus. We believe God’s vision for man is to make us in the image of Christ (Gen. 1:26; Rom. 8:29). We believe that all spiritual progress is the result of God’s grace. We believe that humility is the pathway to Christ-likeness. In seeking to truly become like Christ, we remember His command to, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Mth. 11:29).

3. Devoted: Acts 2:42

The third foundational value of Core is a commitment to the four fundamental devotions of the church as recorded in Acts 2:42: devoted to God’s Word, fellowship, communion, and prayer. It is learning to be a doer of the Word.

4. Equipped: Ephesians 4:11-16

A Core Group outfits the saints for the work of ministry – the privilege and enterprise of each member of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16).

5. Faithful: 2 Timothy 2:2

A Core Group is facilitated by a more spiritually mature person who prayerfully selects others whose faithfulness and gift have been evidenced (‘faithful men, teach’) as presented by Jesus (Luke 6:12,13) and by Paul (2 Timothy 2:2): "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Discipleship as "spiritual parenting" is a life-long process and those we prayerfully select are those we will invest a significant portion of our lives.

Discipleship And The Great Commission

From Matthew 28:19-20 we learn: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (bold mine).
The Great Commission has three participles: "go," "baptizing," and "teaching” and one imperative verb, a command: "make disciples." The main idea is to make disciples. The participles tell us how to do that: we make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. So the goal of a Core Discipleship Group is to make disciples, teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded.
There appears to be a lack of consensus regarding the Biblical definition of discipleship as it appears in the Gospels and the Epistles (theology and methodology). It appears from Scripture that the main verb, ‘make disciples,’ does not really explain the means of discipleship, but its goal. To make disciples according to Jesus’ Great Commission is accomplished by going (first participle), initiating people into the life of discipleship by ‘baptizing’ (second participle), and achieved by ‘teaching’ (third participle) which is the continuous obligation of the church in the life of a new convert as they develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as both Savior AND Lord. Teaching then is the process of getting the person to know Him in a life-long, deeper, and more intimate way. Scripture is an absolute essential element in the process of Holy Spirit-inspired, transformation of knowledge, conduct, and character. Discipleship is the corporate responsibility of the church. Discipleship is a life-long process, beginning at the point of salvation, and participated in by a variety of individuals within the church, each as the Lord directs, from his or her own unique gift set and way.
Making disciples does not refer to some formal structured program intended only for the super-spiritual. It is God’s imperative for every believer in His church. It involves the initiation and the instruction of every believer into an ever deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. It seeks to make every person a follower of Christ.

The Promise

The last phrase of Matthew 28:20 contains an incredible promise: "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." In context, this verse is primarily talking about making disciples. What Jesus is saying is that when we make disciples according to His plan and process, He will be with us. When Jesus sees a disciple making church, He gets involved there. When He sees disciples going out to make new disciples, then baptizing and teaching them, He is very present. According to Romans 12:1-2; Romans 8:29, God wants disciples to be conformed to Christ’s image, and according to His Commission, He promises to help us make disciples to accomplish His plan.

Before I became a Christian there was no way that I would enter a church! I knew what church was like! I had attended a church service once when I was 5. There were 700 people crammed into a small building seating 300. It was hot! It was boring! It was crowded! It was boring and it was boring!

As a young man, growing up in a non-christian family, I was invited by friend to attend a church service. The problem was that my friend stood well over 2 metres tall. He had to crouch to get through doors! And big! His dad was a concreter and my mate Dave was (and is) a mass of muscle!

Dave said to me, “Grosey! If I got to go to church Sunday night, you can come too!” There wasn’t a whole lot of choice in it. Well Dave and I went to church. The third Sunday night that we went along there was this short elderly man in his eighties who was preaching about Eternity. I was interested! But.. we were invited to go along and have a cup of coffee and cake at one of the church members;’ house after church. And there was this little fellow. And he spoke. Again! After he spoke about eternity or something again, he said “Right. Every head bowed, every eye closed! Now! If you want to get to heaven, just put your hand up.”

Well I thought about that for awhile. To get to heaven you just put your hand up.

‘Okay. Sounds easy. Maybe.’

After another five minutes or so (in the mean time three or four people put their hand up, and the preacher said softly and deeply “I see that hand, God bless you!”) I decided to raise my hand. ‘Couldn’t hurt,’ I thought. ‘And , well he said if you put your hand up you go to heaven! Sounds like a good deal!’

“I see that hand! God bless you!”

Another five or ten minutes went bye with the 30 or so people in the room solemnly with bowed head and closed eyes sitting on the floor. I wondered what would happen if I opened one eye and took a peak. Finally the elderly gentleman invited us to open our eyes. Then came words I never expected to hear;

“All those who put your hands up, come out into the back room!”

‘Uh oh… what is this? Didn’t he say of you want to go to heaven just put your hand up? Now he’s adding something extra? I’ve been conned! What are they going to do out there; circumcise me?’

Well we weren’t going out to be circumcised! I placed myself at the tail end of the line of 9 young men aged between 15 and 25 who had raised their hands. Whatever was going to happen, they could all go first!

The elderly man came to where I was standing, stretched out his hand to shake my hand and said the magic words; “What are you?”

I stood there stunned. He said it again “What are you?”

I heard a voice in my head… “Well what are You?”

Discouraged he turned to the next guy and repeated the question; “What are you?”

‘Ha! This guy won’t know!’ I thought, and he answered “Saved!”

I thought to myself ‘What a dumb thing to say.. ‘saved?’ saved from what? How? Who? Him? Why?’

“Well praise the Lord!” The elderly fellow then turned to the next young man in the line.

“What are you?” and he answered “Saved!” Well Praise the Lord, as he shook the young man’s hand.

And to the next “What are you?” and he answered “Saved!”

And then the next “What are you?” and he answered “Saved!”

I thought to myself ‘Hey I get it now, I am supposed to say “saved!” I can do that!’ I waited for the elderly man to finish inquiring of each of the nine men standing in line, so he would return to me. AND HE DIDN’T! I was gypped again! I knew the expected answer now, and there was no one to ask me!

Well my mate drove me home in silence. Dave asked me what had happened in the back room. I told him, “We all got saved, and you better get saved too!” that night those words struck home to Dave, and before he went home he knelt at the side of his mini minor and prayed to receive Christ as His Saviour! And I was just plain confused!

(I did come to know the Lord as my own Saviour over the next 6 months as I read the Bible and trusted the Lord Jesus as my Saviour!)

Have you ever been confused? Have you ever felt gypped? Every felt that you couldn’t figure out this God thing, and when you think you have, you suddenly cop a twist in the story and wind up confused again?

Some people read these words of Jesus and think, “Whoa there, this discipleship thingy isn’t part of the deal! I am saved by grace, I don’t have to DO anything to be a Christian!”

But Jesus did say these words:

Mark 8: 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

Is it a con? How are we “saved by grace”, but we are expected to lay down our loves to get it?

The Truth about Discipleship

Discipleship and Salvation

Christ’s invitation to salvation is, “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28) His call to discipleship is, “Come after Me” (Mark8:34).

Salvation is about the Cross of Christ (Mark 8:31) while discipleship is about your own cross (Mark8:34).

At salvation, you receive a gift, eternal life; in discipleship, you give a gift, your body (Mark8:35).

Look at this chart:

1. Discipleship and Salvation

Is Discipleship the same as becoming a Christian? Can you be a Christian but not go all the way and be a disciple? Well let’s think about some basic truths first:

Discipleship doesn’t save; God does

Jonah 2:9 “Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

John 1:11-13 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Salvation is found in a person, not in a formula!

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Taking your cross doesn’t save; Christ dying at the cross does

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

2 Cor 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But, if you are not a disciple you are not a Christian!

If you are not obedient to the faith, you have never experienced saving faith.

Because Salvation is found in a Person and not in a theory, when a person comes to that Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, a whole new relationship begins. Repentance is turning from our ways and turning to Him as the Saviour and Redeemer. It is turning from the mess we made of our lives, and inviting Him to take over that mess and lead our lives in the best way He knows how, and He does know the best way how!! When a person turns to the Lord Jesus Christ, they can NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!

They become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). Old things pass away, everything becomes new!!

I remember the day I was really “saved!” I woke up the next morning singing “Everything is beautiful!” and it was! I was surprised at the beauty of the creation around me! Why? Because I had a whole new way of seeing life. I was Forgiven! I was pardoned! I was a child of God! I had peace with God through what the Lord Jesus had done at the cross! Heaven above was softer blue, earth below a sweeter green, something lived in every hue, Christless eyes had never seen, Since I knew as then I knew I was Christ’s and He is mine!

DL Moody a famous evangelist had a similar experience :

“I remember the morning on which I came out of my room after I had first trusted Christ. I thought the sun shone a good deal brighter than it ever had before. I thought that it was just smiling upon me, and as I walked out upon Boston Common and heard the birds singing in the trees, I thought they were all singing a song to me. Do you know? I fell in love with the birds. I had never cared for them before. It seemed to me that I was in love with all creation. I had not a bitter feeling against any man and I was ready to take all men to my heart. If a man has not the love of God shed abroad in his heart he has not yet been regenerated."

Now that brings us to a bigger chart:

2. Discipleship and Sanctification

Discipleship and Sanctification are the work of God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit and the Believer.

Sanctification is the big word that means make holy and different. When you come to jesus you can never be the same again. That is because first of all;

There is the work of God the Father in Sanctification

Method	Bible	Application
Chosen to holiness	he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:4	God chose that you should be holy right from the foundation of the world. He chose that you should be a disciple of Jesus. Better get in on His plan!
Recreated heart	Jer 31:33 I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. Ezekiel 36, Eph 4:24	Do you feel bad about your sin? God has put His law in your heart and He wants you to change.
Raised from spiritual death to new life	Ephesians 2:1-10	You were dead in your sin! God raised you from Spiritual death and put Spiritual life into you!
Change heart and mind granting repentance	2 Tim 2:25 God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.	Phil 2: 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. It is God’s work! He will do it! Phil 1:6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Chastising and trials	Romans 8:28,29	Heb 12:1-18 participate willingly in God’s discipline. If you kick against it, it will only hurt you more!

There is the work of God the Son in your sanctification;

Method	Bible	Application
Union in death	Read Romans 6 Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Rom 6:11	Somehow, when the Lord Jesus was on the cross your old sin nature was nailed with Him there. You were united with Him in death, and that old you is now gone!
Union in resurrection	1Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,	It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead that is at work inside you!
Motivation to Love	1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

There is the work of God the Holy Spirit in you.

Did you notice that his name begins with “Holy”. That is what He intends to make you!

Method	Bible	Application
Regeneration/ Spiritual life	2Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Renewal	Titus 3: 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Rom 8: 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Indwelling	“to enlighten the eyes of the understanding” (Eph 1:18), that we may know the things freely given to us of God (1Cor 2:12)
Fruit of the Spirit	Gal 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Filling With Spirit	Eph 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Strengthened	Eph 3:16-19 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Why don’t you fill in the application box for what that will mean for you!

And there is your work in you.

The work of the believer in sanctification and discipleship.

It is a cooperative partnership to make you a holy sanctified disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Method	Bible	Application
Renewing the mind	Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, Col 3: 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.	Read God’s word! Let it renew your mind!
Taught by fellow believers	Ephesians 4:11-16	That us what we do at church! We build each other up in love.
Serving the people of God	Heb 10:24,25	Don’t forsake going to church. We need one another
Bible	John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth,” Col 3:10 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.	Get God’s Word into you. It is life changing. Read it each day!
Apply Scripture to heart Rom 8: 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.	Phil 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.	Submission, confidence, self-denial, patience, and meekness, as well as faith, hope, and love, are called forth, or put to the test, more or less effectually every day the believer passes on earth.
Conversion, Repentance and obedient Discipleship	Rom 1:5 to bring about the obedience of faith	Mark 8:34, And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Abiding in Christ	John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Put off the old man and put on the new man	Col 3:1-17

It is as you walk with Him that you become holy!

Mark 8:34, And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

So how does all this work out when Jesus calls you to become a disciple?

3. Discipleship And Its Seriousness

Discipleship is serious business.

1. Discipleship involves self-denial.

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself,

Denying yourself means that you deny that you can sort out your life. Jesus calls you to turn from your mess and turn to Him. He is the only One who can take out your trash!

2. Discipleship involves servanthood.

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself,

Denying yourself means that you are letting Him be the boss.

There were Old Testament rules for when someone got into debt. There can be crushing debt that you cannot get out from under. Proverbs tells us that the borrower is the slave to the lender, and we experience that every day with our banks: the bank loans us money for a house, and we spend all the rest of our days worrying about repaying that debt. We wear the slave mark that says “Owned by the CBC!” or “NAB” or “ANZ”.

In Old Testament times, if things got bad, someone could sell himself out to a boss as a slave on one third the wages of a normal hired hand. But the boss would look after his food, clothing, shelter and family. It really wasn’t such a bad deal for a Jewish “slave’. Not only did he get looked after for 6 years, but at the end of it, he got to keep some of the stuff he had earned!

Deuteronomy 15: 12  “If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed.

And if he got a good master.. some folks wouldn’t want to leave! Why leave if your boss looks after food, clothing, work and healthcare? It sounds a bit like the Army, or the Public Service!

Well if the slave liked the new deal, he could arrange to stay past the 6 year time limit.

Deuteronomy 15:16,17 But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, 17 then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And to your female slave you shall do the same.

So if you saw someone walking down the street with a hole in his ear, you would have said “Man he must have a good master! I better remember that guy’s name! I may need a job one day!!”

Have you got a good Master? Is Jesus a good master? Hasn’t He loved you and cared for you and lead you along the way as your trusted in Him? That was why Paul loved to call himself “A bond-servant of Christ Jesus (Rom 1:1). He knew where to get a good deal! Will you serve Him?

3. Discipleship involves sacrifice.

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross.

It costs to be a Christian!

The word sacrament comes from the Roman legion’s “sacramentum” a yearly ritual of a soldier offering incense to a bust of Caesar and declaring “Caesar is Lord!” It was understood that by offering that incense the soldier was vowing faithful service to Caesar even to die for him.

This sacrifice and oath was later required of every person within the Roman Empire. Of course, that brought Christians into conflict with the Empire. For a Christian the only declaration that could be made was “Jesus is Lord!” and all others are pretenders to the throne! He alone was worthy.

Have you made that sacramental vow to the Lord Jesus? As we share in communion, the Lord’s Supper, there is a sense in which this Sacrament is our opportunity to say “Jesus is Lord! And I will follow Him even until death!”

4. Discipleship involves sharing.

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

The word sharing, means fellowship, communion, a getting to know one another at the deepest of levels. Jesus invites you to such a fellowship. Jesus said “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”. (John 17:3)

He wants you to experience fellowship with Him as you walk along following Him.

Will you be a disciple of Jesus? If you are a Christian you are a disciple. You have entered a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and you can never be the same again!

Person

Method

Bible

Application

God the Father

Recreated heart

Ezekiel 36, Eph 4:24

Jer 31:33 I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.

Raised from spiritual death to new life

Eph 2:1-5

Change heart and mind granting repentance

2 Tim 2:25 God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Phil 2: 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Chastising and perfecting trials

Romans 8:28,29

Heb 12:1-18 participate willingly in God’s discipline

God the Son

Union in death Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Romans 6

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:11

Union in resurrection

1Peter 1:3

Motivation to Love

1 John 4:19

God the Spirit

Regeneration/Spiritual life

2Cor 5:17,

Renewal

Titus 3:5

Rom 8: 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Indwelling

“to enlighten the eyes of the understanding” (Eph 1:18), that we may know the things freely given to us of God (1Cor 2:12)

Fruit of the Spirit

Gal 5:22,23

Filling With Spirit

Eph 5:18

Strengthened

Eph 3:16-19

The Believer

Renewing the mind

Romans 12:2

Col 3: 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Taught by fellow believers

Ephesians 4:11-16

Serving the people of God

Heb 10:24,25

Bible

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth,” Col 3:10

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Apply Scripture to heart

Rom 8: 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Phil 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Submission, confidence, self-denial, patience, and meekness, as well as faith, hope, and love, are called forth, or put to the test, more or less effectually every day the believer passes on earth.

Conversion, Repentance and obedient Discipleship

Rom 1:5 to bring about the obedience of faith

Mark 8:34, And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Abiding in Christ

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Put off the old man and put on the new man

Col 3:1-17

Please contribute any thoughts which you see to be absent.

Acts 1:1-11 Snake Hunting And Soul Winning

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4 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." 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

1. Be Passionate.

2. Be Real

3. Take Risks

Acts 1:1-11 Snake Hunting And Soul Winning

My favourite television show, I have decided, is The Crocodile Hunter. Amazingly, the most significant television show in America today is our own over the top Crocodile Hunter Show. Listen to what the lecturer in Evangelism from South Eastern Baptist Seminary says; “It has been a long time since I was as excited about a television show as I am about The Crocodile Hunter. Whenever I speak to young people, I ask how many of them know who the Crocodile Hunter is. The response is telling. Nearly every one of them knows who he is. The show’s star, Steve Irwin, has jumped from "just another host" of a little known program on a USA smaller market cable network, to the host of primetime specials on network television and an occasional appearance on movies and commercials. Steve Irwin’s incredible rise in popularity can teach us some things. The enthusiasm of young people from age 5 to 25 for the show is obvious. They know his sayings: "She’s a beauty!" (I have to admit even a snake lover like me has a hard time calling a salt water crocodile beautiful!) If a particular python attempts to bite him, you will hear him say, "Oh, you’re being grumpy, mate!" "Danger! Danger! Danger!" is another of his popular sayings.” Believe it or not, I think Steve Irwin’s rise — from a man running a zoo in Queensland to an internationally known figure — can teach us some things about how to make an impact on this culture.

First, he is passionate. Have you ever seen anyone so incredibly zealous for a bunch of lizards and snakes? On several occasions he has said, "I would give my life to save this crocodile!" Now that is passion! Oh, that we as believers would have such a passion for Jesus, who is of infinitely greater value than a reptile! Our lost culture desperately needs people who will live for Jesus with a passion. Great movements of God in history, from the disciples in the book of Acts, from the First Great Awakening in the C17th to the Jesus Movement, have been led by people ablaze with a passion for God.

Now I would have to admit, I find his passion a little strange, but we as believers have Someone that motivates us to a real passion.

Do you notice what Luke writes about the apostles in this first chapter of Acts?

4 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."

1. Be Passionate.

Verse says that Jesus spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. Now here’s what was probably happening: They weren’t sure but the disciples believed that Jesus was getting ready to pull off a political coup. Jesus, the Messiah, would overthrow the Roman rule and Jesus would set up His earthly reign, and rule in power. And of course Israel would most certainly have a big part in the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah. The disciples had a passion, but originally it was misdirected. The Lord had to get them tuned in on His programme. They were tuned in to Ruling in God’s Kingdom that they hoped was just about to appear. He retunes them. They were to be passionate about telling others of Him. And He was going to give them the Power to make that happen.

The Kingdom of God is THE ETERNAL REIGN OF GOD IN THE UNIVERSE AND IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE FROM EVERY GENERATION. Many Christians have the wrong passion. The passion of many Christians is that church is about "me." About my taste, my needs, my feelings, my family, my friends. No! We are about God’s Kingdom. The disciples had a very narrow view of the Kingdom. They could not grasp that God had something much larger in mind than just Israel.

Now stop to think about this for a moment: What if the narrow passion of the disciples would have been the plan? What if Jesus had established the eternal kingdom very soon after his resurrection? Two thousand years of evangelism would have been forfeited. That means you and I have never had the opportunity to know about Christ.

What is a kingdom without subjects? What is a family without people? God was about populating heaven. But if the narrow passion of the first disciples would have prevailed it would have ended right there. Let me ask you this: What would the kingdom of God look like if you were in charge of it? What’s your passion? Is it for the Kingdom of God? Is it vibrant and alive? We cannot let our lives and our church be guided by a passion of the Kingdom of God that’s anything less than Jesus’ passion.

Acts 1:8 – "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

One of our missionaries was working in Indochina during the turbulent years of the struggle with Communism. He was taken captive by a band of Communist guerillas. And in the period of several weeks that he was held, the missionary became friends with a young officer. He taught him English from his Bible. One day they were discussing an impending operation in which the guerillas were going up against incredible odds. The missionary pointed out that the young officer would likely die. The young officer replied, "I would gladly die if the cause of Communism could be furthered." Then he continued, "You know, as you have read to me from the Bible I have come to believe that you Christians have a greater message than that of Communism. But I believe we are going to win the world. Because Christ means something to you, but Communism means everything to us. Now history has proven that young man wrong. Communism failed, but not because of a lack of commitment, but because it wasn’t the truth. We have the truth on our side as Christians, but do we have the same passion and commitment?

2. Be Real

Second, he is real. His videography is inferior to what you see in National Geographic specials, but no one cares! We live in a society today where reality is in, and synthetic is out. Look at the popularity of shows like Survivor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and The Weakest Link, all of which feature everyday people rather than phony Hollywood actors. The primary way The Crocodile Hunter has grown to reach the masses is not through marketing. Rather, it has touched a chord in the lives of many in the culture, especially the coming generation of young people, who are sick and tired of slick approaches to push a product.1 This culture wants real, not slick.

The best way to witness in this postmodern, increasingly radically unchurched culture is to be just like the early believers. They did not make an impression by their background, or their position, but by their genuine, obvious, and deep love for Jesus. Acts 4:13 gives one of many examples of this: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant, they marveled; and they realized that they had been with Jesus. The most remarkable aspect of the early believers was that they were unremarkable. That, and they were real. And they had had a real experience with Jesus.

Acts 1:1-3 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days

The author is a GP by the name of Luke. . Well, Dr. Luke had a passion, a desire to really minister to people. . In Colossians 4:14 Paul calls him "the beloved physician." We meet him for the first time in Troas where he joins Paul and Silas and Timothy on the second missionary journey. He may have been converted there and joined the missionary team as a kind of staff doctor. He was so much more than a doctor! He traveled with Paul for years and went with him finally to Rome where Paul died. In 2 Timothy 4:11 during Paul’s final imprisonment in Rome. He says simply, "Luke alone is with me." Throughout these years of travel as a missionary Luke is taking notes about the works and words of Jesus and the progress of the church. Finally God moves him to write a two-volume work that makes up more of the New Testament than what any other New Testament writer wrote, including the apostle Paul: The Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. And his immediate purpose in writing them was to help a man named Theophilus see the truth about what Jesus did and taught and how the church spread throughout the Roman world. In fact, hold your place and turn back to Luke 1.

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Theophilus is probably some kind of Roman official because of the title "most excellent" which Luke uses to refer to Roman officials in other places (Governors Felix, in Acts 23:26, and Festus in Acts 26:25). Apparently Theophilus had some knowledge of Jesus and the church, but it was not clear and certain and complete. Luke’s aim was to give him a faithful account of what Jesus did and said and then of the progress of the church in the world. Luke wanted reality for Theophilus. He wanted him to know the certainty of the facts. He didn’t want any mistakes about the truth. Nor did the Lord Jesus.

Acts 1: 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs,

Reality! Luke wants us to not only be passionate, but have reality. You see sometimes we are not passionate because in our atheistic world we forget that the truths about Jesus are not just religious ideas. These are not ideas that you can take or leave. These are real truths. These are evidential truths.

The evidence for the reality of Christianity is right there.

1. He APPEARED to the disciples. The word here is one from which we get our word, ophthalmology or ophthalmologist. It is the word for the eye, or literally, the eyeball. If we were to use the modern vernacular, what Dr. Luke says is, these disciples "eyeballed" him for forty days. They saw him again and again, not merely once, but many times during this period. Each time he looked exactly the same. It is impossible for an hallucination to accomplish that. Luke is saying He is risen!

2. He SPOKE to the disciples. Why, says Luke, we even remember his subject matter. He talked about the kingdom of God. We saw him and heard him, two objective sensual experiences that confirmed to us that this was no fantasy, no hallucination.

3. He ATE with the disciples. Your translation of the Bible may read "gathering with them…" or "being assembled with them…" The word for gathering can also be translated "to eat with" or "to lodge with." The point is that Jesus, after the resurrection, spent some quality time with His disciples over meals. I believe this is pointing to what happened in Luke 24:36-49, particularly vv.42-43. They saw the food disappear. It is surely terribly hard to get an hallucination to eat! Luke says, "This is the proof; he ate with us, so we know he is alive."

Now why did Luke go into such detail about this? Why did Jesus think it necessary for the early disciples to have this person-to-person experience with the living Christ?

The resurrection was the Reality that would change their whole lives.

The resurrection of Jesus would be the Meaning of their lives. There’s no way they could go on about their normal routine, back to their old way of live. In fact, some of them tried to. After the crucifixion one day Peter said, "I’m going fishing." He left the business of a follower of Christ and went back to his old way of life. Why? Jesus was dead, or so Peter thought. But after a frustrating night for the disciples Jesus appeared to them alive. The resurrection of Jesus would be the Message of their lives. As the disciples became leaders of the church the resurrection of Christ was a powerful part of their message. See Peter’s Pentecost sermon … Acts 2:22-24.

Now that was great for the first-century, first-generation disciples. But what about us … two thousand years removed. Can we have the same meaning and message in our lives? Absolutely! He is risen! The proof has been in for 1970 years. It has been beyond dispute. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus proves it all to be true.

What does it prove? His resurrection proves why He came into our world.

He came to die for sinners to give them eternal life.

His resurrection proves God takes man’ sin seriously.

His resurrection proves there is mercy for sinners who come through Jesus

His resurrection proves there is a judgement of hell for those who do not know Him.

His resurrection proves we ought to be enthusiastic about telling others about Jesus.

3. Take Risks

Third, Steve Irwin takes risks to get the job done. No, that is inaccurate. He loves risks. He is crazy! Why do we say he is crazy? Because he takes risks just to get the job done of having some spectacular footage. Do you think that his goal is just to put some nice or not so nice animals on film? I think he wants other people to see the film. In fact I think he wants everyone in the world to see his footage. I don’t think Steve Irwin is as dumb as he looks. I think he has weighed the risks against the goal quite adequately. Obviously his goal is to be the most known man in the world. Maybe he looked at the other most known men in the world. Do you remember the name Evel Kneivel? That name became synonymous with daring stunts. Risks! He weighed the risks against the goal. To get the job done of being the most known man in the world.

Steve Irwin’s first show that put him on the map concerned his adventure to capture the ten most venomous serpents in the world with his bare hands. It seems he spends his life trying to get as close to being a crocodile dinner as possible. He would not be happy unless he were chasing down a wild pig by foot, or grabbing a cobra with his bare hands, or jumping in a river on the back of an alligator. He will make sacrifices to save an animal. Oh that we would make sacrifices for the salvation of the lost! Could God even use a Crocodile Hunter to spur us to take risks to reach the unchurched at any cost?

We have a greater goal. The goal is to be the Lord’s witnesses in Jerusaem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the remotest part of the earth.

Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

The goal is that the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that is found in the Lord Jesus should be made known right around the world. Every person needs to know. Eternal life and eternal destruction ride in the balances.

Now you may think to yourself, “Everybody in Australia knows already, we are a “Christian” nation.” No I have to tell you not everyone in Australia understands the good news of the Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection. In fact very, very few people in Australia understand about it. Less than 5% of the total population know that the Lord Jesus died for their sins on the cross and that He truly was rasied from the dead that he might be their Saviour and Lord. It wasn’t until I was 16 or 17 years old that I understood it. I went to church for a month before I heard that I was lost and needed a Saviour. What if I hadn’t been dragged to church against my will by an older man who just wouldn’t let up? I would never have understood about my Saviour, and I wouldn’t have a hope of eternal life. I’d have been lost. Forever lost!

What about you? Aren’t you glad someone took the time to explain to you how you could have your sins forgiven and have eternal life? What if no one took the Lord’s command here literally. You would have been lost forever too. But someone took the risk.

We have our goal and we ought to take whatever risks are necessary to get the job done.

Are you willing to take the risks to get the job done, of making the Lord Jesus the most known man in the world. So others too can have eternal life through His Name?

What are the risks we are talking about?

The risks of being thought odd. Is the risk worth it?

Jude 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire;

The risk of being called a religious bigot.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The risk of losing a friend.

Philemon, a wealthy friend of Paul’s had lost a slave, but through the Gospel gained a brother.

Philem 15 Perhaps you could think of it this way: that he ran away from you for a little while so that now he can be yours forever, 16 no longer only a slave, but something much better–a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you too, because he is not only a servant but also your brother in Christ. TLB

Is it worth the risk. You bet their eternal life its worth the risk. Will you be involved today?

You may be concerned that maybe it won’t all work out. As we conclude this morning, please notice the Lord’s encouragement. He hasn’t left you powerless. Vs 8.

The Spirit’s coming was necessary for knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:26). Every believer needs to understand the Word of God. But apart from the Spirit’s work, that is impossible! Spiritual truth can only be understood by spiritual revelation. And He will work through you to make it plain to your friends.

The Spirit’s coming was necessary also for boldness in living and testifying of Christ. "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you" (John 14:16-17). These struggling disciples, facing certain persecution, would become bold, flaming witnesses for Jesus Christ in the face of all sorts of adversity. What was their secret? It was no secret! It was the Holy Spirit coming to indwell them, to take the place of Jesus Christ walking in their midst, to abide in them. He would give them fresh courage and boldness in the work before them. He will give you courage and boldness too.

The Spirit’s coming was necessary for the disciples to be able to witness effectively of the good news of Jesus Christ. "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning" (John 15:26-27). As the Holy Spirit bore witness of Jesus Christ to the disciples, they in turn would bear witness to a waiting world.

The Spirit’s coming was necessary for the disciples to carry out the work of evangelism and missions. They did not have the power to convict a sinner of his sin or to convince a sinner that God’s justice had been satisfied through Christ at the cross. They could not get inside a man’s heart and mind to turn him to Christ. But the Holy Spirit can…and will do all of this! "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." Now, notice what He will do in relationship to the work of evangelism and missions. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged" (John 16:7-11). It is the Spirit Who does a work in a sinner’s heart.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."

we do not realize just how lost our world really is! We do not think often on how millions of people have no idea of what Christ did at the cross. We must give ourselves to the work of carrying the good news of Jesus Christ to sinners at home and abroad. Be Passionate, Be real, take risks!

Acts 1:4-12 The Ascension Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

4 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."

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

The Ascension

THERE ARE EIGHT GREAT EPOCHS IN THE LIFE OF OUR SAVIOUR:

1. His eternal preexistence in heaven

2. His descent to the earth ©His virgin birth.

3. His mighty ministry

4. His atoning death on the cross

5. His resurrection

6. His ascension into heaven

7. His triumphant and kingly return

8. His eternal reign in heaven and in earth.

I guess of all the parts of our Lord’s life, the part we hear least about is His ascension.

1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

John 6: 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

John 17:11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. John 17:13 But now I come to You,

John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

Jesus Predicted His Ascension.

1. Consider The History Of It

This was a historical fact.

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Not fantasy but history here.

It is recorded with Startling Brevity

It is recorded with Striking Simplicity.

The place. It occurred “toward Bethany” (Luke 24:50), that is on the Bethany side of the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:2).
The procedure. Christ actually traveled up as if supported by the cloud (Acts 1:9). The ascent was not a sudden disappearance but a gradual, though not long, movement upward.

A. An Exit Recorded

Just some weeks prior to this our Saviour triumphantly entered into Jerusalem when He descended the Mount of Olives and entered in by the Golden gate. Then the people cried their hosannas to our Lord and would have made Him King. Here we have the triumphant exit of our Saviour out of Jerusalem when on the same Mount of Olives He ascended up to heaven as the glorified Saviour.

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to the cross Now He is going to the crown

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to the thorns Now He is going to the throne

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to be scorned Now He is going to the singing

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to be lifted up Now He is going to sit down

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to be crucified Now He is going to be glorified

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going atone for sin Now He is going to mediate for sinners

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to be lifted up Now He is going to sit down.

At His entrance into Jerusalem He was going to be our Substitute Now He is going to be our Advocate

B. An Entrance Recorded

Ps 110. David said in that Psalm:

"The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’" (vs 1).

Here king David was moved by the Holy Spirit to pen a psalm which recorded for the church of the Old Testament God’s plan to enthrone the coming Son of David. "The LORD said to my Lord," writes David, and with those words David the king writes about God speaking to David’s Lord, speaking to someone greater than David the king. In the final analysis that person greater than David the king can be none else than the Son of God. To this Son God Himself gave the instruction to sit at His right hand; that’s the thrust of Ps 110. That Jesus Himself understood that this was the thrust of Ps 110 is pointed up by what Jesus said to the high priest on the night of His betrayal. Jesus said to him:

"…you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power" (Mk 14:62).

At His ascension into heaven, Jesus approached the throne at God’s right hand. And what did that sitting mean? According to Scripture, "sitting" is characteristic of ruling. The Pharaoh whom Moses and Aaron visited in Egypt is pictured as "sitting" on his throne (Ex 11:5; 12;29). Old king David assured Bathsheba that son Solomon would "sit on my throne" (I K 1:17,20; cf vs 24,27; 3:6; 8:25, etc). The Lord’s own sovereignty over Israel is presented in terms of His "sitting" on the ark (I Sam 4:4; II Sam 6:4). So too in the vision which Isaiah saw of God; says the prophet: "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up" (Is 6:1).

David says it too of the Lord in Ps 47: "God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne" (vs 8).

That Jesus, then, when He was taken into heaven, should "sit" means nothing else than that He became ruler, king. Jesus "sat down" in heaven. He rules as Lord. That’s the effect of the ascension: Jesus Christ is elevated to the throne of the universe!

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended"–what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

2. Consider The Theology Of It

John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

It was for us He ascended!

A. He Ascended As Our Lord

Jesus Christ entered heaven as our Lord Three times our Lord was offered a crown. The Devil offered Him the Kingdoms of this world in the Wilderness if He would bow down and worship him. At Jerusalem the people tried to make Him King but he refused their acclaim. In the ascension God the Father crowned Him both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ‘ 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

(Philippians 2:9-11 NIV) (9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In an African Village, the old chief had died. There was much debate about who should lead the village. One man, Dalzeal, stepped forward. He had only one arm, having lost the other to a leopard when one came through the village attacking the villagers. By the wounds of my arm I claim the right to be your leader.” By the Saviour’s wounds He claims the right to be our Saviour. By the resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into glory He has the power to be our Lord. Have you bowed the knee to Him as your Lord?

B. He Ascended As Our Forerunner

The forerunner was one who was ahead of the troops, going before them, and awaiting their certain advance to the same position. Here’s the message intended: we will be where Christ is, within the veil; for He has gone before us to prepare a place that we might be with Him forever (John 14:1-3). Whether we enter heaven by the clay or by the cloud, by death or by the rapture, we can be sure Jesus Christ has gone before us. He died, He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, He ascended up to heaven. Because He had an ascension we also shall have an ascension on that day when we hear the shout of the archangel and trumpet of God.

Heb 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever

Heb 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another– 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

C. He Ascended As Our Intercessor

When Jesus ascended to heaven there was nothing more to do on earth. His work was finished. His heavenly ministry as advocate and Intercessor began. Our blessed Lord was always a man of prayer. He prayed in many places. In the fields, on the streets, in the garden, on the mountain, in houses and in the temple, but now He ever lives to intercede for us at the right hand of God. Thirty years of living, three years of teaching, one tremendous act of dying and now more than two thousand years of praying. He is praying for us just now. Murray McCheyne said "If we could hear Jesus praying for us in the next room we would fear nothing." He prays for us in heaven now.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

ROM 8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life , is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (NIV)

To all our prayers and praises Christ adds His sweet perfume.

Have you ever asked yourself, how the Lord can accept such imperfect prayers from such a sinner as you and answer them ? It is because our Saviour intercedes for us.

The word mediate means "To resolve or settle differences by acting as an intermediary agent between two or more conflicting parties."

You need a mediator. We see the work of a mediator on a job site. When the unions stage a walk out, then someone is needed to stand in between the employers and the workers. We call this person an arbitrator. He’s usually a friend to both sides, and just tries to achieve a settling of the differences, so that there can be peace between the two factions. You need a mediator. The Lord Jesus is the Mediator between you and God. You need a mediator between you and God. Quite often when I talk to folks about their relationship to God, they say "She’ll be right " She won’t be right ! You need the mediator God has provided you. ISA 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (NIV)

HEB 9:11-15 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not Man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (NIV)

You Need An Advocate. One Friday in Sydney I had to assist a lady in our church to get an AVO order against her husband. It was a sad day for that family. But while we were waiting for her case to be heard, I watched as a magistrate got pretty up tight with a few people. They appeared in court without a solicitor. When you go to court, buy yourself a solicitor. You need a solicitor in court. He stands up and says all the things you wouldn’t know to say to keep you out of trouble. As I watched these people who were convinced that they could represent themselves before the magistrate, I watched all the solicitors

to see their reactions. They just sat there and shook their heads. They knew these folk were saying all the right things just to get themselves into really hot water. Hey, did you know, that if you’re a believer, you do something wrong, Satan goes right up to the court in heaven and says: "Hey God, look at that Christian down there. Look at the mess he’s making of things again. He’s sinned. You ought to condemn him to hell. You ought to take his life right now." Boy, in that court room, you need a solicitor. That’s what the word advocate means. You need someone to advocate your cause.

1JO 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (NIV)

The Lord Jesus Christ is your Advocate ! he right now is pleading His blood over your sins.

Charles Wesley put it in a hymn : 5 bleeding wounds He bears, Received on Calvary, They pour effectual prayers, They strongly plead for me. Forgive him, O forgive ,they cry, Nor let the ransomed sinner die.

Amintas ,a greek soldier was tried for treason. When Aeschylus who had lost his arm in the service of his country heard the sentence passed, he held up the stump of his arm and cried "Amintas is guilty, but for Aeschylus’ sake he shall go free" Even so, our Advocate has plead on our behalf.

D. He Ascended As Our Victor

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended"–what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

There is an Old Testament picture here of a General or King returning from a military expedition and having won a decisive battle.

The victorious King would first of all take his defeated foes and put them in chains, then he would release his people who had been previously captured and chained.

You can imagine King David triumphing over his enemies and then taking them in chains, as prisoners with him back t Jerusalem. At the same time he enters the prisons of the opposing King and releases the POW’s to bring them home in His victory procession.

Did you see the Russel Crowe film Gladiator? Very gruesome for blood and guts (almost as much as ER)

There is the victory procession, the Triumph, and as the procession takes place, the Victory incense is burned. It truly is an odour of life to life for the released captives, and at the very same time it is an odour of death to death for the chained prisoners.

Col 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

HIS ASCENSION WAS TRIUMPHAL OVER SATAN & HIS HOSTS

COL 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

When Jesus ascended back to heaven He ascended as our victorious general He went back having one the victory over sin and Satan and death.

2 Cor 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.

Roman Generals returning in the triumph procession would lavish the spoils and gifts upon their soldiers. Our Lord has lavished gifts upon the church

Acts 2: 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

The greatest gift is His Spirit left to indwell us.

3. Consider The Doxology Of It

A. This Was An Event Surrounded By Earthly Praise

They weren’t to be politicists looking for an earthly kingdom and positions.

They weren’t to be pietists… gazing into the sky.

They were to be evangelists. You never glorify God more than when you speak a word for your Saviour. When you bear witness for Him.

B. This Was An Event Surrounded By Heavenly Praise

HIS ASCENSION WAS TRIUMPHAL Psalm 24

Ps 24 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.

4. Consider The Prophecy of It

Just as the first coming-to-earth of Jesus was predicted thousands of years in advance, so the second coming of Jesus was predicted thousands of years in advance.

Here’s what we know:
· His Ascension was certain so also He shall surely come

It’s a sure thing. It is a biblical promise from God.
· His Ascension was sudden so also He shall come suddenly

The date is unknown to us. According to Jesus, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority." (1:7). God has deliberately kept the date a secret. We’re not told why. Perhaps it would have been bad for previous generations to know that there would be a 2000-year wait. Maybe God wants it to be a surprise. Just be sure to never believe anyone who tells you that they know what Jesus says they can’t know. There have been a lot of badly mistaken teachers and preachers who have claimed to know the date, and every one has been wrong. Never believe the date-setters because they are clearly unbiblical and contradicting Jesus.
· His Ascension was physical so also He shall come bodily

Jesus’ return will be like his departure. Jesus’ departure was simple, public and visible. His body left the ground on top of the Mount of Olives and he ascended until he disappeared. While every detail may not be exactly the same, Jesus’ return will be similar. He will physically come to earth from heaven

His ascension was visible so also He shall come visibly.

It will be a public event. If you are around and have a camcorder you will be able to record it on videotape.

His ascension was personal so also He shall come personally

In His Ascension it was the same Jesus – the Jesus who loved the lost, wept for the hurting and died on the cross. The same Lord Himself shall appear. We did not see Him but we shall see the same Lord.

Last time Jesus came as a poor peasant; next time he will come as a conquering king.
The purpose of Jesus’ return. He will reunite with Christians. He will right the injustices caused by sin. He will judge evil. He will take over the ruling of the world. He will tie up the loose ends of history. He will fulfill the purposes and plans of God.

The expectation of Jesus’ return makes a difference in the way Christians live right now. We are to live good and godly lives in anticipation of Jesus coming back.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus is coming with rewards for His own. When He comes, what will you have to show Him? "When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ and He shows me His plan for me–the plan of my life as it might have been–and I see how I blocked Him here and checked Him there and would not yield my will, will there be grief in my Savior’s eyes–grief though He loves me still? He would have me rich, but I stand here poor, stripped of all but His grace while memory runs like a haunted thing down a path I can’t retrace. Then my desolate heart will well nigh break with tears I cannot shed. I will cover my face with my empty hands; I will bow my uncrowned head."

Acts 1:15-26

The big concern over the last few weeks was the poor form for the Knights. No Andrew Johns. He was out with ligament damage. And the team lost every match. Until last week. He’s back and they are wining again. First they chewed up the Broncos then Melbourne Storm. Now whether or not Andrew Johns plays for the Knights this week is really nothing in the big scheme of things. But it’s an example of the importance of people being in their place. Whether it’s in a family or in a church or any other group of people, we all have a place. Turn with me to Acts 1:15-26.

We’re in a series of message from the book of Acts entitled "Changed Lives … Caring People." The book of Acts is the chronicles of the success of the church by the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives into caring persons who would radically impact their world for Christ. But nothing of this magnitude ever happens without leadership, without people, under the providence of God, taking their place in what God is doing. Let’s read Acts 1:15-26. The work God does moves forward on the shoulders of persons who have yielded their lives to be used by Him. God uses leaders to influence others in the direction He would have them go. Therefore we all have a place of leadership in some way. And much of the book of Acts is about people taking their place in what God was doing. And here in our text this morning is a classic example of that. Just notice some of the phrases we read about Judas: Acts 1:17 – "He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

Acts 1:20 – “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms, ”‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ”‘May another take his place of leadership.’

Acts 1:25 – "To take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”

Don’t tune out just because you don’t think you’re a leader. Everything rises and falls upon leadership. There is a constant need for leadership in the church. What is leadership? Is it always high profile leadership? No. Leadership is simply one person influencing others toward a particular goal. Preschool and children’s workers are leaders in the sense that they are influencing precious lives in the formative years toward a particular goal and direction. We need leaders in homes. Husbands and dads, are you in your place? We need leaders in the community, politics, etc. making a difference, influencing others toward a particular goal or direction. Now our text this morning is a powerful illustration of this principle. Notice:

I. THE FAILURE OF NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP (vv.15-20)

Having seen Jesus ascend from the Mount of Olives to the right hand of the Father, the disciples do as Jesus told them and they returned to Jerusalem. There’s about 120 of them and they’re praying together. But there’s something hanging over them: the tragic hypocrisy, the shameful betrayal, and the ultimate suicide of one of the 12 leaders … Judas Iscariot.

Certainly one of the great tragedies of the Bible is the story of Judas Iscariot. You’ll recall that Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve that Jesus chose as leaders or apostles. You recall that it was Judas Iscariot who, for 30 silver coins, agreed to lead the Jewish authorities to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and identified Jesus with a betraying kiss. The gospels go on to tell us that Judas was filled with remorse over what he did. He tried to return the reward money to the Jewish authorities, but they were not sympathetic to his efforts to repent. Judas threw the coins into the temple and left. With that money a field was purchased that was later called the Field of Blood because it was purchased with money used to condemn an innocent man. Meanwhile, Judas, overwhelmed by his accusing conscience went out and committed suicide. Matthew said that Judas hanged himself, while Luke, here in Acts, tells us that Judas "fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out…" Was there a contradiction? No. The two accounts are entirely compatible. Judas probably hanged himself over a cliff of some kind. The tree broke or the rope broke and his body fell to a gruesome death on the rocks below. QUESTION: So why is this episode placed here in the beginning of the book of Acts? There is the glorious ascension of Jesus on one side, and the awesome coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost on the other side. Why is the flow of things seemingly interrupted by this business of the failure of Judas and the need to replace leadership?

The answer is found in the importance of human personalities fulfilling their destiny and their purpose in the overall purposes of God. God’s church was going to be built upon the shoulders of men and women, godly men and women. God always does His work through people. Did Jesus make a colossal mistake in choosing Judas Iscariot? No. John 6:64 says Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. And in John 17:12 Jesus prayed, "While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled."

You see, Judas was placed among the apostles because it was essential for him to betray Jesus. But God did not force Judas into that betrayal against the will of Judas. It’s very clear that Judas had every chance of taking his place among those who Jesus would use to shape the future of the world, but rather, out of greed, Judas sold out Jesus and tried to derail God’s plans through Christ. Judas made a choice and he had to pay the consequences of that. And what happens when people fail? Does the Kingdom of God come crashing down? Absolutely not! In fact, our text tells us that God knew all this was going to happen and had events already arranged. Peter stands up among the believers and says, "Listen, God is in control." vv.16-17 – “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— ¹⁷ he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” What scripture had to be fulfilled? v.20 – “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms, ”‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ”‘May another take his place of leadership.’ The first half of verse 20 is a quote from Psalm 69:25. And that word is fulfilled in how Judas died and purchased a field by his blood money that became a desolate field of blood. The second half of verse 20 is a quote from Psalm 109:8, And that word is fulfilled in the way Judas was replaced by Matthias, described in verses 21-26. God wants us to see this morning that when the Holy Spirit says something, it will be fulfilled, even if it takes a thousand years.

I think the reason is that it is not hard to believe that God’s purposes are invincible when things go well for God’s anointed. But when things go bad, when there is lying, and mistrust and betrayal, and death, then you need all the help you can get to believe that the purposes of God are invincible. And that is what Luke gives us: not even Judas and Satan could undermine or escape the all-encompassing invincibility of God’s purpose. So we see the failure of negative leadership. But that opens the door to …

II. THE FOCUS OF POSITIVE LEADERSHIP (vv.21-26)

So the church is going through the process of selecting another leader who will take the place of Judas Iscariot. And in the process we see the focus of positive, godly leadership. The kind of leadership God needs in any church, in any home, anywhere he is working.

1. Committed (vv.21-22) vv.21-22 – Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” v.21 – "it is necessary…" – Why was it necessary? The importance of leadership. There’s a place for everyone, and everyone must be in their place. So out of the body of believers two men were proposed … Matthias and Barsabbas (or Justus). Matthias and Justus had been in the ranks for perhaps three years. They had the qualifications, but the timing was not right. Then it was time for one of them to step up. They had already demonstrated faithfulness to the Lord, they were already following Christ faithfully, so when the opportunity arose they could immediately step into the place God had ordained for them. Note: The church historian Eusebius says that Matthias was one of the seventy Jesus sent out two-by-two in Luke 10. Matthias and Justus were drafted, they didn’t volunteer. There’s no indication they were given a choice in the matter. These men were recognized by the faith community as having been faithful, they were already in their place and God was ready to put one of them in another place. Note: Not that others always know what God’s will is for us. We’re assuming here that these two men had prayed about God’s direction in their lives. They didn’t seek the position, but the Spirit sought them. They responded with willingness. There were very stringent qualifications for the office of apostle. Every job has its unique qualifications. But we put limitations on people or on ourselves. Can women be leaders? Certainly, with the exception of office of pastor or deacon, as we understand the qualifications set out in I Timothy, etc. Can divorced people serve in leadership capacities? Certainly, aside from biblical exceptions regarding pastors and deacons, no door of ministry and leadership is closed. There are qualifications for every position of leadership. If we are to have the privilege and the opportunity of leadership, we must also accept the responsibilities of leadership in terms of living a godly life and following Christ with a passion. Every person should be in their place by the providence of God, by the sovereign choice and direction of God. I’m doing what I’m doing because I believe God has called me and placed me here.

2. Compelling (v.22) Acts 1:22 – For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” One of the great responsibilities of any leader is to be a witness for Christ. POINT – These leaders were to witness for Jesus. We don’t ever get away from Jesus. We’re not just going about doing good things for the sake of doing good things. We are witnesses to Jesus. It is His love and His ministry that is flowing through our lives in every ministry that we perform, in every function of leadership. Don’t miss that! We must never get away from the fact that Jesus is loving and leading through us. We keep pointing people back to Him.

3. Compassionate (vv.17,24) "shared in this ministry" (word for ministry is diakonias) – means service … same word as for deacons and other ministers in the church

4. Character (v.24) Notice that they were praying to God for direction in their decision. Why? Because God knew things about the leaders that no one else knew. v.24 – Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Godly leadership has character and integrity … what one is like when no one else is around.

5. Called (vv.24-26) Prayer is essential to the selection of leadership. The church was praying. We must assume that the two men were praying. There was not a political process going on here. The process was initiated by the leadership and the Holy Spirit worked through every step. They church gave God every opportunity to set forth His man for the position. What about the casting of lots (v.26)? Two explanations of this: a. Shake two stones with each of their names written on them and one falls out and he is the one. b. Election. Regardless of process: Proverbs 16:33 says, "The lot is cast into the lap. But its every decision is from the Lord." Matthias was chosen.

6. Courageous (v.26) There is an element of sacrifice and risk when one assumes a position of leadership. Think about what happened to the 12? They all died for their faith. Matthias was no exception. Early church tradition says that Matthias was captured and blinded by Ethiopian cannibals, presumably where he had gone to evangelize and to fulfill the Acts 1:8. Tradition has it that he later returned to Judea where died at the hands of Jews.

CONCLUSION

Leadership is the foundation of everything. These twelve were essential to the church’s foundation for eternity. Revelation 21:14 – The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

There’s a sense in which every church has a foundation, and the foundation is made up of leadership, men and women who supported everything else. Of course Jesus is the cornerstone and the most important piece of the foundation. But if the rest of foundation is not in place, the foundation will sag and sink. Every person’s life has a foundation. And we can imagine that there are names on that foundation … the names of a godly dad and mom, grandparents, SS teachers and choir teachers and missions teachers, and school teachers.

Acts 1:15-26 Godly Christian Leadership

The big concern over the last few weeks was the poor form for the Knights. No Andrew Johns. He was out with ligament damage. And the team lost every match. Until last week. He’s back and they are winning again. First they chewed up the Broncos then Melbourne Storm. Now whether or not Andrew Johns plays for the Knights this week is really nothing in the big scheme of things. But it’s an example of the importance of people being in their place. Whether it’s in a family or in a church or any other group of people, we all have a place. Turn with me to Acts 1:15-26. But nothing of this magnitude ever happens without leadership, without people, under the providence of God, taking their place in what God is doing. notice some of the phrases we read about Judas: Acts 1:17 20 25. Everything rises and falls upon leadership. Not seen in decision making, nor tyranny, but in godly influence.

I. THE FAILURE OF NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP (vv.15-20)

There’s about 120 of them and they’re praying together. But there’s something hanging over them: the tragic hypocrisy, betrayal, suicide of Judas Iscariot. . Matthew said that Judas hanged himself, No Contradiction:. Judas probably hanged himself over a cliff of some kind. The tree broke or the rope broke and his body fell. Why is the flow of things seemingly interrupted by this business of the failure of Judas and the need to replace leadership? The answer is found in the importance of human personalities fulfilling their destiny and their purpose in the overall purposes of God. Did Jesus make a colossal mistake in choosing Judas Iscariot? No. John 6:64 John 17:12 what happens when people fail? Does the Kingdom of God come crashing down? Absolutely not! In fact, our text tells us that God knew all this was going to happen and had events already arranged. 16-17. Not even Judas and Satan could undermine or escape the all-encompassing invincibility of God’s purpose.

II. THE FOCUS OF POSITIVE LEADERSHIP (vv.21-26)

1. Committed (vv.21-22) The church historian Eusebius says that Matthias was one of the seventy Jesus sent out two-by-two in Luke 10. In a position and now position is recognized. These two men had prayed, the church prayed. The decision was made.

2. Compelling (v.22) We are witnesses to Jesus. It is His love and His ministry that is flowing through our lives in every ministry that we perform, in every function of leadership.

3. Compassionate (vv.17,24) ministry diakonias

4. Character (v.24) Godly leadership has character and integrity

5. Called (vv.24-26) Prayer is essential to the selection of leadership. Not a political process.

Lots (v.26)? Two stones or elections? Prov 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap. But its every decision is from the Lord."

6. Courageous (v.26) Matthias was captured and blinded by Ethiopian cannibals, presumably where he had gone to evangelize and to fulfill the Acts 1:8. Tradition has it that he later returned to Judea where died at the hands of Jews.

Leadership is the foundation of everything. These twelve were essential to the church’s foundation for eternity. Rev 21:14

Every person and every churches life has foundation stone people.

Acts 2 The Day Of Pentecost

So many Christians are confused by the theology and the experiences of Charismatic people. And they have become so visible because of Christian television, radio, books, magazines, and because their ministries are so aggressive that we all are inundated by them through direct mail. Television and the media has spread this movement, it has created for them a tremendous platform. In fact, it is probably not far from the truth to say that most people would assume that Evangelical Christianity is what the Charismatic movement represents, because it is such an exposed movement. But we must deal with it in line with 1 Thessalonians 5:21, and that is to examine it carefully, to determine what is true and what is not. This morning I want you to know at the very outset, that I love my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, and I have no intent to convey anything other than love for them. I think in the movement there are many who are not genuinely saved, and I am equally concerned about their salvation. My purpose is not to debate them, pitting our theology against theirs, but to call them to the test of Scripture, to drop what Amos called the "plumb line," to see if they are straight with the Word of God.

I have to say at the very outset that a rather powerful intimidation factor works against those who wish to deal with this movement Biblically. To critique Charismatic doctrine or practice is commonly viewed as inherently unloving, inherently unkind, inherently divisive, and even blasphemous. I have personally been accused of blaspheming the Holy Spirit by calling this movement to the test of Scripture. Anybody who wants to answer the movement; to confront the movement; to measure it by Scripture; can be intimidated. Because it is very hard, then, to find a platform to speak about the movement. It runs almost rampant like wildfire. Charismatic extremist can promote almost any idea they chose on television, or on radio, or in their books. And those who attempt to examine those in the light of Scripture are muzzled. Robert Tilton preaches every Sunday in Dallas, and he will mail you a miracle coin which by the way, is actually worthless; but it is a miracle coin. He has mailed them to hundreds of thousands of people promising them a financial miracle if they will send him, "A cheque for the best possible gift you can give." And then there is a reminder in this mailing, "Only you and God know what your best gift is." A little intimidation there, and if you will send for him the best gift you can give, you will get a miracle coin that guarantees you a miracle. Tilton’s Television program was called, "The fastest growing empire in religious television." But a couple of years ago Tilton was on fraud charges and his television and religious empire crumbled. The things that he promised and said were absolutely bizarre, and yet the bizarre has become the commonplace.

One fellow I know Charismatic Businessmen’s meeting in Chicago, where a Catholic Priest testified that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had given him the gift of tongues while he was saying his rosary. Then the Charismatic pastor, leading the meeting, rose and said, and I quote, "What an amazing testimony that is. Aren’t you glad that God isn’t bound by any ideas by what’s doctrinally acceptable? Some people would try to dismiss this brother’s testimony just because it doesn’t jibe with their doctrinal system, but how you get filled with the Holy Ghost doesn’t matter, as long as you know that you have got the Baptism. Even if you got it from Mary while saying your rosary, it has to be legitimate." The audience, by the way, numbering in the hundreds, broke into wild affirmation and applause.

Fantastic encounters with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are claimed as commonplace; personal messages from God are routine; healings of all kinds are claimed; miracles occur, everything from cows being raised from the dead; washing machines being healed. Last year I received an add from the Medowie Baptist church. They had an “evangelist” coming who could turn your normal fillings into gold fillings. I brought it up to our deacons meeting and requested our deacons all to go over if they had any interest in us fulfilling our church budget. They didn’t. People are slain in the Spirit; people go to Heaven and go to Hell–comeback. There are some today who even say that the Church can’t do effective evangelism without such phenomena, without such signs and wonders and miracles. The gospel, they say, is weak without signs and wonders.

This morning as we read the book of Acts we are coming to a vital passage of scripture that has been so distorted in recent times. Because of the charismatic chaos in our world, we are sometimes hesitant to look carefully at these scriptures. You will find as you read this passage some tremendously encouraging material. We often deprive ourselves of the encouragement of the Scriptures because of the craziness of our times.

Pentecost introduces us to the work of the Holy Spirit which we presently enjoy. If you strip away the work of the Spirit, you have taken the life out of Christianity. If you distort the work of the Spirit, then you have created an aberration of Christianity. Seeing what Pentecost is all about can help us respond appropriately to the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives.

How essential is it for us to understand the Holy Spirit and His work? John Stott, in his characteristically clear way, explains this essential understanding of the Spirit introduced to us in the book of Acts.

“Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, even impossible. There can be no life without the life-giver, no understanding without the Spirit of truth, no fellowship without the unity of the Spirit, no Christlikeness of character apart from his fruit, and no effective witness without his power. As a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead. [The Message Of Acts]

Please notice first of all with me

1. The Purpose Of The Day Of Pentecost

It Isn’t a Disorganised Drama But It Is A Mission Vision

The Holy Spirit existed prior to Acts 2.

In Creation In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

In Old Testament History So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. 1 Samuel 16:13

In the Life and Ministry of Jesus Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2a

Scripture spoke about this day ahead of time.

In the Old Testament “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Joel 2:28

Through John the Baptist The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3:15-16

By the Lord Jesus Himself “But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:25-26 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4- The disciples were all together on the day of Pentecost, presumably in one large room which we call "The Upper Room." The disciples really did not understand all that was going to transpire. They only knew that Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father which He was sending to them. So they obeyed and made spiritual preparations for whatever the Lord might do in them.

"And suddenly" shows that what was happening had nothing to do with the pleadings of the disciples. They were not trying to call the Spirit down from heaven. They were ‘waiting’ or preparing themselves for the work of God. The Spirit then suddenly, without any kind of warning, invaded that small band of believers in His mighty, cleansing power.

The point that Luke is making by this phrase is that the Spirit’s coming is unmanipulated by any person. This was the sovereign act of an Almighty God fulfilling His redemptive plan for His people! Our God does as He pleases for His own eternal glory. He comes to us personally, as well as corporately, in the Holy Spirit. He comes to fulfill His Kingdom’s purpose in history through the great work of the Spirit.

This was a day that was ordained by God in eternity past. This was a day prophesied in the Old Testament and in the teachings of Jesus.

John 7:37-39 – On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

The Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus was a turning point in the Kingdom of God. A new day dawns in the redemptive calendar of God. In Acts 1 the disciples waited for the Spirit of God to come. In Acts 2 the Spirit came. In Acts 1 the disciples were equipped. In Acts 2 they were empowered. In Acts 1 the disciples were held back. In Acts 2 they were sent forth. In Acts 1 the Lord Jesus ascended. In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit descended.

The day of Pentecost was the prepared day.

Pentecost means "Fiftieth." This refers to the 50th day after Passover was essentially the harvest time. It was also called the Feast of Weeks because it occurred a week of weeks after Passover. (7weeks) An offering of firstfruits was made at Pentecost. It was an offering of two wave loaves of unleavened bread.

The day of Pentecost was also the day when Jews celebrated the giving of the Law. This was a prophetic reflection of the day when God gave His law in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. John Stott makes the comment : “It is tempting to find the double symbolism of harvesting and law giving in the Day of Pentecost. Certainly there was a great harvesting of 3,000 souls that day, the first-fruits of the Christian Mission.” The Old testament prophets said Ezek 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Jer 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Certainly wind fire and voices are associated with the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.

The Sound Of The Wind (v. 2)

In this sudden movement, the first detection by the disciples was a sound. "And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind." In contrast to the ‘still, small voice’ in which God revealed Himself to Elijah while covering himself in the cave, God the Spirit thunders into the lives of the redeemed at Pentecost.

The words clearly indicate something noticeable. The word "noise" was used in Luke’s gospel for the roar of the sea (Luke 21:25). The Psalmist echoes this idea in Psalm 29:3-5a, 7-9.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars… The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness: The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve, And strips the forests bare.

And in His temple everything says, "Glory!"

The whole idea of "power" is conveyed in the voice of the Lord, just as His power is evident in the "noise" of the Spirit’s coming. Added to this are the words, "a violent, rushing wind," which gives you the idea of a wind of tornadic proportions saturating the house. The "wind" is a common word used to symbolize the Spirit in both Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew has just one word, ruach, for both Spirit and wind, just as the Greek, pnuema, is used in the same way.

This audible coming of the Spirit is said to have "filled the whole house where they were sitting."

The Sight Of The Tongues of Fire (v. 3)

The next phenomenon, "tongues as of fire," offers us a marvelous picture of what the Spirit was doing. "And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them." First, the disciples had heard the Spirit coming. Now they would actually see the Spirit descending and resting upon them in what appeared to be fire shaped like tongues.

What was this sight? It seems that this appearance of fire, as the disciples observed it, came as one singular body, then broke out upon the heads of each disciple. It shows that the Spirit falls upon every believer, not just an elite few. It shows that He gives unity to the entire Body of Christ as this same fire rested upon each one singularly. With the appearance being fire, it obviously presents us with the idea of purity, as observed in Isaiah’s striking vision of a burning coal from the altar being placed upon his lips to purify him.

Fire also symbolized the presence of the Lord. There was the fire of the Shekinah glory that led the children of Israel at night. There was the fire that came forth from the altar to consume those who had defiled the altar (Lev. 10:1-2). There was the Lord speaking from the midst of the fire (Deut. 4:11-12), so that Moses stated, "Our God is a consuming fire" (Deut. 4:24). Those tongues of fire demonstrated that God had come to His people to dwell in them and to constantly be with them. His presence is ever near for those who know Him. He abides in us, purifying us as a holy people unto Him.

John the Baptist had already prophesied that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matt. 3:11). Now this prophecy was fulfilled.. In the Old Testament we see the Spirit coming at various points upon God’s people. Now He comes at Pentecost to dwell permanently in the redeemed!

The Speaking Of The Languages

The kind of tongues mentioned in this verse and throughout the book of Acts were known languages. The entire text is quite clear on this. Notice the three words just in verse 4 that relate to this. They "began to speak" is the Greek word commonly used for human speech (laleo) throughout the New Testament. Next, "with other tongues," distinguishes that the kind of speaking taking place was with "different languages." The word "other" implies "other than their own" (heterais) tongues, that is, tongues not native to their own. The word "tongues" (glossai) refers to languages, not ecstatic utterances or unintelligible speech.

This is clearly demonstrated in verses 5-11, since the known languages in which they were speaking were identified by the countries represented. The comment in verses 6 and 8 of hearing in their own "language" is the word "dialect" (dialektos), which means one’s manner of speech. Many of these languages were similar in background and sound yet different; just as the Swiss language is similar to the German language today, but the Swiss is considered a dialect.

Third, it was the Spirit "giving them utterance," not anything contrived, forced, imitated, or manipulated. The word "utterance" is yet another word for speech with an emphasis on "declarative speech or oracular utterances" (apophtheggomai).

This brings us to the whole purpose of the "other tongues." As evidence that the Messianic age had come and that the promises of the Old Testament related to Messiah were fulfilled, these uneducated Galileans were communicating the "mighty deeds of God" in the native languages of this cosmopolitan gathering at Pentecost. Rather than a mass of gibberish, each person listening was hearing these men and women giving testimony in their own language. No one was in the dark as to what was being said. Each was being communicated to in an understandable way. The filling of the Spirit was not without purpose! He fills that we might speak "of the mighty deeds of God" to a lost world!

”. He is the Holy Spirit. A Person! But the term “poured out” gives the idea of indiscriminate bestowal. And that is the point of the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is given to each of us who are believers. “All flesh” would indicate more than just the Jewish folks (which is probably why the disciples on the day of Pentecost spoke..

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs–we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

All flesh.

And All classes 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

This part of the prophecy of Joel has to do with the concept that through the pouring out of the Spirit on all classes, that weall may partake of what is called the priesthood of all believers. No longer was there t0 be a “priestly caste”. No longer was there to be a distinction between clergy and laity, where the priestly caste were the only ones to have a special relationship with God.

It Isn’t a Disorganised Drama But It Is A Mission Vision

Unfortunately Pentecostal people have appealed to this passage to say that this was entirely a chaotic mess and that mess’s please God. There was nothing chaotic about this. This was exactly what God had planned for centuries. There was order here. There was purpose here..to send the gospel out to all nations. It wasn’t a confusing disorganised rabble. The tongues they spoke in were known languages, known to those who were listening. This is completely different to the modern day claims of tongues. Two linguistic analyses carried out on modern charismatics by William Samarin and John Kildahl have found that their “tongues” have reached the conclusion that there have been no current confirmed recordings of tongues today that have been of an unlearned foreign language. In other words, current pentecostal languages are little more than jibberish.

2. The Promise Of The Day Of Pentecost

To Dwell “IN” People

It Is Not A Personal Push But It Is A Provision Of Power

The current Pentecostal advertising is that of you want real power personally you bettr join their church because they are the only ones with “the power”. The day of Pentecost was the bringing of power into the believers life. But not in the hyped up way that Pentecostals claim. It isn’t a personal self gratifying and pride producing experience. It is something far different.

Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit

While the words "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is not used here, it is clearly the fulfillment of what Jesus described as being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" in Acts 1:5.

This is what we call the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit of Jesus, so when you are saved you are indwelt by the Spirit of Jesus. You were immersed, baptized, into Christ when you became a Christian. The Holy Spirit places you into Christ, unites you with Christ. But also the New Testament tells us that we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into a body of believers.

Remember this: there is no command in the Bible to be baptized with, by or in the Holy Spirit. This is a sovereign work of God that occurs when a person by faith receives Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. It is not an experience that we seek by itself, rather it is part of the package we receive when we are saved … just like justification, atonement and adoption. The baptism of the Spirit is positional, not experiential. It is the placing of the believer into Christ.

· Identifies believers with Christ

· Happened once and for all; it’s permanent

· Allows us to say, “I belong to Christ’s Body,” applies at once to every believer

Through the filling of the Holy Spirit

Now, v.4 says that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. As I said earlier we are never commanded to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. However, we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. While the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one-time act of God in our lives, the filling of the Holy Spirit is repeated and continual. Peter was in the room and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, but he was filled again later in Acts 4. Acts 4:31 says that the disciples, many of whom were likely in the Upper Room at Pentecost, were again filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are commanded in the Scriptures to be filled with the Spirit (Eph.5:18). In fact, the original language of Eph.5:18 says, "keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit." As you and I daily consecrate ourselves to God and yield to the control of the Spirit, that ignites the power that is in us and that enables us to do all that we’re to do as Christians.

· Empowers believers to serve and witness for Christ

· Happens often; it’s continual

· Allows us to say, “My body belongs to Christ,” applies individually to each believer

3. The Power Of The Day Of Pentecost

Its Not A Triumphalist Temperament But It Is A Transforming Testimony

Amazement (7) Heard in their own language and dialect.

Perplexity (12) Received from the uneducated, ignorant Galileans

Curiousity (12) Heard them declaring the wonders of God and Wanted to know what all this meant.

Pentecostal people tend to be missionaries of their own experience.

They are amazed at their experience and feel that you and I are substandard of we do not do and behave as they behave. I am continually amazed at the impoverishment of Pentecostal experience. They get started oin something and get all caught up in it. And they can’t see there is something more. Yhey get hung up on a “Second baptism” in the Spirit, which is probably the first baptism if anything, and possibly in many only a psychological aberration. And they don’t move on to the greater experiences.

One put it like this:

Once it was the blessing; now it is the Lord. Once it was the feeling; now it is His Word.

Once His gifts I wanted; now the Giver own. Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.

Once ’twas painful trying; now ’tis perfect trust. Once a half salvation; now the uttermost.

Once ’twas ceaseless holding; now He holds me fast. Once ’twas constant drifting; now my anchor’s cast.

Once ’twas busy planning; now ’tis trustful prayer. Once ’twas anxious caring; now He has the care.

Once ’twas what I wanted, now what Jesus says. Once ’twas constant asking; now ’tis ceaseless praise.

Once I tried to use Him; now He uses me. Once it was my working; His it hence shall be.

Once the power I wanted, now the Mighty One. Once for self I labored, now for Him alone.

Once I hoped for Jesus; now I know He’s mine. Once my lamps were dying; now they brightly shine.

Once for death I waited; now His coming hail. And my hopes are anchored safe within the veil. –A.B. Simpson

Conviction (37)

Conversion (38-40)

· Celebrate being baptized in the Holy Spirit: “I belong to Christ’s Body.”

· Commit to being filled by the Holy Spirit: “My body belongs to Christ.”

The great Scottish Bible expositor Alexander MacLaren once wrote: ‘We may have as much of God as we will. Christ puts the key of the treasure-chamber into our hand, and bids us take all that we want. If a man is admitted into the bullion vault of a bank and told to help himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor?”

· Count on being used by the Holy Spirit: “My mouth will declare the wonders of Christ.”

Acts 2:1-21 The Day Of Pentecost

1 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs–we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17′And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’

1. The Purpose Of The Day Of Pentecost

It Isn’t a Disorganised Drama But It Is A Mission Vision

The Sound Of The Wind (v. 2)

The Sight Of The Tongues of Fire (v. 3)

The Speaking Of The Languages

2. The Promise Of The Day Of Pentecost

It Is Not A Personal Push But It Is A Provision Of Power

Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Through the filling of the Holy Spirit

3. The Power Of The Day Of Pentecost

Its Not A Triumphalist Temperament But It Is A Transforming Testimony

Amazement (7)

Perplexity (12)

Curiousity (12)

Conviction (37)

Conversion (38-40)

Acts 2:37-41 THE SEASON OF DECISION

And today we’re talking about "The Season of Decision." We’re talking specifically today about the big decisions in your life, the time when the Lord is dealing with you and the Lord has made a need known to you, and you need to decide to go the Lord’s way. And it could be about your salvation; it might be about your Christian life, allowing the Lord Jesus to have control of every area of your life. It might be a decision about your faithfulness or a decision to join the church or some other spiritual decision that you need to make in your life, perhaps even about a place of service where God wants you to serve. There come those times in our lives that are seasons of decision. It is important to realise that God often speaks to people through a time of worship time like this, and it might be a very critical time for several individuals in this place. And I know that always we are in a spirit of prayer because we know that every time we come together, there are those who are struggling with decision.

In Acts 2 we have the record of the Spirit of God being poured out on the Day of Pentecost and the church actually being birthed and brought into existence through the power of the Holy Spirit. And it began when 3,000 people were saved after hearing the sermon preached by Simon Peter. The apostles and other believers had been meeting for 120 days in prayer. And after 120 days of prayer the Day of Pentecost came. God was ready to begin a new work in the world that continues until Jesus comes again. And so we’re going to look at this season of decision in the lives of these people. They had heard the message; notice their response in Acts 2:37: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’" Notice that – “what shall we do?” – that’s an action word. Faith is an action, and the gospel requires action on our part. God challenges us not only to hear the word but to do something about it. "’What shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ With many other words he warned them and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." This was a tremendously momentous time in history when 3,000 people responded to this message to repent, to be a part of God’s kingdom, to be a part of God’s church, and to make a significant spiritual step in their lives.

Today as we think about the season of decision, what does it take to really be a Christian? Biblically I mean ? Well, some people have experienced an emotional decision – they once heard a message, and they got a tear in their eye or they got a lump in their throat, and they had a funny feeling, and they made a quick decision, but it didn’t last. There may have been a lump in the throat, bt there was a lizard in the gizzard, and they high tailed it out of here. That’s an emotional decision. And then some people make a ritualistic decision – they grow up in a church, as many have done, and when it comes time for them to be baptized, they’re baptized. And they go through the rituals of the church, and they believe that they’re Christians because of a ritualistic decision. Yet the Bible teaches us that it’s possible to have ritual without realities; it’s possible to have ritual without having the Redeemer, without having a real relationship with Jesus Christ. And then there are those who make a religious decision – that is, they make a decision just to join a church, and they become a member of the church, but it’s really in name only. Even though they may even participate regularly in church, it’s just a Sunday morning kind of thing, and it’s not really something that impacts and changes their life. Some people make an intellectual decision – they weigh the facts, and they say, "Alright, it makes sense there’s a God. It makes sense that things didn’t happen by accident; there has to be a God behind it." And so intellectually they accept the facts about Jesus Christ as presented by the Bible. They make an intellectual decision. But you know, the Bible says that even the devils believe. Just to believe intellectually is not enough; it won’t get you to heaven. The Bible says that you’ve got to believe with your heart. And there’s a difference in heart belief and intellectual belief. So this particular passage shows us the kind of decision that we need to make regarding our relationship with God.

1. reproof by the Spirit

First of all, I want you to see that in this decision there was reproof by the Spirit – Acts 2:37: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’" Notice there’s an urgency in this question: What shall we do? And the Bible says here they were cut to the heart. Has that ever happened to you? It might have been when you were a child; it might have been when you were a teenager; it may have been when you were an adult, when you first realized that Jesus Christ died for your sins individually, the Lord Jesus has come and died for you. The question was made very plain to you as never before “What should I do about my relationship with God?” The folks that day were cut to the heart. Have you been cut to the heart? Now that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. We can preach truth, but only the Holy Spirit can draw people to Christ. John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God through His Spirit draws you to Himself. You today can respond to His inner working. But it’s the Spirit of God who brings people to the point of decision in their life. He makes you see your need for God; He makes you see your need for forgiveness and for salvation and to know God in your life. That’s called the reproof or conviction of the spirit.

a. God’s Spirit calls you, and God’s Spirit convicts you. First of all, He calls you. He calls you through the scripture; He calls you through a song; sometimes He calls you through the death of a loved one. And I believe that many of you could look back over this week, and you could see events in your life, and you know God was calling you, God was speaking to you, God was trying to get your attention through these events. Only God can do that. And then b. God also convicts us. It’s God who brings that message home to the heart. One time a young man said to me, "I was sitting in the service today as you preached." And he said, "How did you know about my life? Did somebody tell you what I’ve been going through?" He said, "It was as though you were speaking directly to me. And when you invited me to turn to Christ, I just had to because I knew that you were talking to nobody but me in that building." That’s exactly how it is when God calls you: He convicts you. You feel like you’re the only person to whom God is speaking. He lets you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that you need to be saved. He calls us, and He convicts us through the work of His Holy Spirit – that’s the first step. You can’t even begin to know God until He calls you.

2. repentance of sin

Secondly, not only is there the reproof by the Spirit, I want you to see there was repentance of sin. It’s very important. Acts 2:38: "Peter replied, ‘Repent.’" They said, "What shall we do?" Peter said, "You need to repent." Now what does it mean to repent?

a.Repentance is a change. Notice what Peter said: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Now repentance means a change; that’s what the word repent means. That is repentance is a change of direction in your life. Repentance is a change of direction; it’s a military term. The Greek word for repent here is metanoeo. Metanoeo means a change of direction, as though a person’s marching in the army, and the Commander says, "About face." And so he turns and completely changes his direction, and that’s what it is to repent. In your relationship to God, to repent means you’ve been going away from God, you’ve been going your own direction, you’ve been going your own way, you’ve been doing your own will. And when you repent, you begin to do the will of God. You change your direction; you begin to go toward God. It doesn’t mean you’re perfect, but it means you’ve changed the direction of your life. To repent means a to take a change of direction in your life.

b. To repent means to have a change of attitude. It begins in the mind, in the heart; and then it works itself out in a change of action, but it’s a change of attitude about sin. No longer do you seek the sin, but you abhor sin. You try to stay away from sin; you try to be obedient to God, and you’re sorry when you’re disobedient to God. It’s a change of mind about sin; it’s a change of mind about self. You no longer live for self, but you live for the Saviour; you live for God. You no longer think of what you want to do, but what God wants you to do. Have you ever repented? Has there been a change of mind, a change of attitude about sin, about self? It’s a change of attitude about the Saviour, because Jesus Christ is discovered to be the One who has loved you and given Himself for you, you want to honour Him and serve Him in your life. That’s what repentance is all about: it’s a change of direction; it’s a change of attitude.

c.To repent means to have a change of Lords or bosses. Peter said, "Repent, be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ." The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is not only Saviour; He’s Lord. That means He’s boss. How do you know if you’ve really repented? That’s an important question, because the Bible says you can’t get to heaven unless you’ve repented. Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you’ll perish." So how do you know if you’ve repented? Repentance is a change of Lords. Jesus becomes the Lord of your life, not just the Saviour of your life. A lot of people want salvation and Christianity to be like a cafeteria line, where they come down the cafeteria line, and they say, "I’ll have some Saviourhood, please." Then they come down to the next place, "But no Lordship for me." In other words, "I want to be saved; I want to go to heaven; I want my sins forgiven. But I don’t want to obey God; I don’t want to serve God; I don’t want to live for God." And they try to accept Jesus as Saviour without accepting Him as Lord. But the Bible teaches that repentance is a change of Lords. And either your self is the Lord of your life – your self will, your self ambition – or Christ is the Lord of your life. Now in the Bible the emphasis is on the Lordship of Christ. For every one time Jesus is called Saviour in the Bible, He’s called Lord eleven times. Yes, He is Saviour; yes, He forgives us; yes, He’s compassionate. But He also wants to take control of our life. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me."

There are many people who think they’re going to heaven because they’ve prayed a little prayer, they’ve made some profession of faith, and Jesus has never been Lord of their life. They’ve never turned their life over to His control; their life has never been changed by the power of God. My friend, the Bible says you’ve got to repent, and to repent means a change of Lords. Look at Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. NASB You must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. I want to ask you today, is Jesus the Lord of your life this morning? Jesus is either Lord of all, or He’s not Lord at all. And Jesus must be Lord if you’re to have a right relationship to God.

3. the reception of the Saviour

Well, not only was there reproof by the spirit and repentance of sin, , but there was also the reception of the Saviour. Now Peter said, "When you’ve repented, when your sins have been forgiven, you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Now what is the gift of the Holy Spirit? Well, there are gifts (plural) of the Holy Spirit, and there is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Gifts (plural) are special abilities God gives to you when you receive Christ. There’s the gift of teaching; there’s the gift of prophecy; there’s the gift of ministry; there’s the gift of mercy. There are many, many gifts mentioned in the Bible. There are gifts of helps – there are all kinds of spiritual gifts. But here he’s talking about the Gift. What is the gift of the Holy Spirit? It’s Jesus – Jesus Himself dwelling in your life through the presence of the Holy Spirit is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes in your life to glorify Who? Jesus. " John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me,

There has to be the reception of the Saviour; you have to welcome Jesus Christ into your life.

Many people have joined churches, and they’ve given intellectual assent to a set of beliefs, but they’ve never welcomed the Lord Jesus into their life. Not one time have they ever consciously, knowingly said, "Lord, I receive you into my heart." But John 1:12 said, “Yet to as many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." Notice that: to those who received Him. Now you’ve either rejected Christ or received Christ. And if you say, "I’ve done neither; I’ve been neutral," then you have actually not received Him, and to have not received Him is to have rejected Christ. To be neutral is to reject Him. You must receive Him; there’s got to be that decision on your part to receive the Saviour.

At the end of many messages here, as we conclude a church service, I often lead people in a prayer to receive Christ. It includes repentance of sin; it includes receiving Christ. I lead in prayer this way because that’s what the Bible says you must do to be saved. it’s so important. The Lord Jesus, through His Holy Spirit must come into your lfie or you are not saved. The Bible says, "We know that we live in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit." God’s Spirit dwells in your life. Every Christian has God’s Spirit, and God’s Spirit is in your life to represent the Person of Jesus Christ. And through the Spirit of God living in you, Jesus lives in you. That’s what the Christian life is. Some people get worried that they could never hold out and live the Christian life! There’s only one person who’s ever lived the Christian life, and it’s Jesus. And you can’t live it apart from Him, but He will live it through you if you will receive Him today.

4. The Responsibility of Baptism

a. baptism has become confusing

Now Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized." The King James says, "for the remission of sin." Acts 2:38 >ei)$ a&fesin tw=n a(martiw=n u(mw=n, kai\ lh/myesqe th\n dwrea\n tou= a(gi/ou pneu/mato$ < And it’s a little bit misleading when you read this just in an English translation, because the word for the remission of sin, the word f-o-r, the preposition for is the Greek word eis, e-i-s in the Greek. Now like our preposition for, f-o-r, it can be used in different ways. In other words, I went to school for an education; but when I finished, I shouted for joy. That’s two different things, right? I went for an education, amen? In order to get one. So for can mean in order to. But when I graduated, I shouted for joy – because of joy – not to get joy, I already had joy: that’s why I was shouting. And boy was I glad! Now is he saying here to be baptized in order to have sins forgiven? Or is he saying to be baptized because sins have been forgiven? Well, you can’t take this verse in just one place and say it means be baptized or your sins won’t be forgiven. It really is a part of obedience, not a part of salvation. He’s not saying be baptized in order to get sins forgiven; he’s saying because they have been forgiven. Be baptized, because your sins have been forgiven. When you repent, God forgives your sins. Does that make sense? Well then, what is baptism? It doesn’t take long to explain baptism. I’ll just explain it in a few minutes.

Notice here baptize means to bury; it means a burial. In the Greek language if they were going to bury somebody in a grave, they would say, "We’re going to baptize them." Now when the King James Bible was written, and they came to this word baptizo, which translated baptize, they had a problem, because the Church of England, of which the King of England was a member, was the one who had commissioned this translation of scripture. They came to this word, and it means to bury. Well, that’s not the way the Church of England did it: they sprinkled or poured. They didn’t put people under the water; that wasn’t their practice. And so they were faced with a dilemma. They said, "Now if we translate this to bury, then it’s going to show everybody that something’s wrong with the way we’re baptizing, or it’s not the way we baptize." So they just took the word out of Greek and transliterated it into English, baptizo in the Greek, and they just transliterated it into the English word “baptize”. In other words, they didn’t translate the word exactly; they just transliterated the word. But it means to bury; it means to plunge under. It symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ by which we’re saved. If you bury somebody, you do not sprinkle dirt on them; you don’t pour dirt on them; you put them under. Now that’s what the word baptize means, and it symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection. That doesn’t mean people who have been sprinkled are lost and not going to heaven. It has nothing to do with whether you’re going to heaven or not; it just has to do with what it means and what the purpose of it is. It’s to show a death, burial, and resurrection. And even churches who pour or sprinkle believe baptism means the death of an old life and the resurrection of a new life. To them it means the same thing, but they don’t do it in the way that it was done in the New Testament. And I think it’s wonderful that here’s something that you can do that Jesus did. Jesus walked 70 miles from Nazareth to the southern end of the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. Why? Not because He had repented of sin, but because He was the answer to sin, and He came to show why He had come into the world. The priority of Jesus’ ministry, the first act of His ministry was to be baptized. He walked 70 miles to do it. And when Jesus was baptized, He was saying, "I’ve come into the world on mission, that is to die for the sin of mankind. I’ll be buried, and on the third day I’ll rise again." And when you’re baptized, you’re saying, "I believe in His death, His burial, His resurrection, and I believe that through Him my sins are buried and put away, and I have a new life because He’s come into my life."

b. Baptism Is A Command

Now there’s another thing about baptism: baptism is a command, not an option. This is in the imperative mood, which means it is a command of God. It doesn’t mean it saves you. You’re not saved by baptism; you’re saved by Jesus. Just like you’re not saved by good works, you do good works because you are saved. You’re baptized not in order to be saved, but because you’ve been saved, because you’ve believed. And if something happens to you on the way to the baptistry, will you be saved if you’re not baptized? Yes. But at the same time, it’s very important in the Christian life because it shows what Jesus is all about, and it shows your commitment to Him. It’s an act of obedience.

Now some people were baptized before they got saved, and here’s how it happens a lot of times. Somebody makes a decision. They don’t really understand the decision of receiving Christ. They join the church, and they’re baptized because that’s a part of it. Then later on they realize they never had a personal relationship with Christ, and at a youth camp or watching Billy Graham or in a revival service, then they get saved. Well, if that happened to you, you need to be baptized. You say, "Well, I was baptized before." Yes, but when you were baptized before, you were not a Christian; you were not a true believer. Baptism is to follow belief, not precede it. It’s not be baptized and believe; it’s believe and be baptized. And I could give you many, many scriptures that support that. Baptism was the first act of all believers in the New Testament following their belief in Christ. And so I would invite you today if you’ve not been scripturally baptized, to show forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ after your salvation experience, I would invite you to consider that. Because baptism is important. It’s a responsibility, and it’s also a privilege that you as a believer ought to have.

5. the role of church membership

Well, last of all, there was the role of church membership – Acts 2:42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer." Acts 2:46: "Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere heart, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Now there are three reasons you ought to join a church, you ought to be a part of a church. Because

a. You need to join a church for fellowship. The Bible says they fellowshipped together. Fellowship means to have common ground. Their common ground was they had all been saved in the same manner. They came from every walk of life, and yet one thing was common: they had all been sinners, and now they had all accepted Jesus as their Saviour. And that’s the one thing that every one of us can have in common. And the Bible says that we need to encourage one another; we need to love one another; we need to help one another; we need to pray for one another. That’s what the church is all about. You need the large fellowship of the church service. You need the smaller fellowship of the Bible study group. The Bible study group is normally the place where you can find that close fellowship with a few people, and those few people can know what’s going on in your life, and they can pray for you and help you. It’s so important.

b. You need to join the church for worship. The Bible says here: "They were praising God." The Bible says that they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. What is that thing that will inspire you? What is that thing that will lift you up? What is that thing that will bless you and strengthen you? It is to worship God; it is to praise God with other believers. Yes, you can praise God, worship God at home, in the bush, or somewhere else. But there’s something about coming together when the body of Christ is together lifting their hearts and their voices in praise to the Lord. And our worship, we believe, is a style that accommodates a wide variety of people. You know, we’re not the frozen chosen; we’re not so traditional that everything is in such a rigid form it has to be done a certain way. But we’re not so untraditional that things are done in a wild kind of way that it seems that nothing is in control. I mean we’re in between; we have a balance between praise and worship and the teaching of God’s word. And if that’s the thing that blesses you and the thing that inspires you, then you need to be a part of this church. Some of you have been visiting this church and considering it, then I invite you today to be a part of it for fellowship, for worship.

c. You need to join the church for discipleship. Discipleship means teaching. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. There were some things to learn. They needed to join the church to learn them. They made the decision, then teaching followed. It takes all of our lives to be a disciple. You can become a Christian in one decision, but to be a disciple of the Lord is a lifetime submission of your life to Jesus Christ. And just as His disciples were with Him, and they listened to him, and they spent time with Him, so you need to spend time with Him and listen to Him and hear the teaching of His word and learn the great truths of the faith. Because it is truth and its convictions that will sustain you and will keep you on solid ground. And as you attend this church, and as you attend Bible studies and classes, you’re going to be discipled; you’re going to learn some disciplines, some teachings that will be a part of your life for as long as you live. And when the hard times come, those will be the things that sustain you.

Well, that’s the season of decision. And the question is, men and brethren, what shall we do? What shall we do? Every one of us need to ask that individually. Maybe today you need to receive Christ and repent of your sin; maybe you need to respond with baptism; maybe you need a church home. That’s what the public invitation is for, and we will give you the opportunity to respond today. You don’t have to be a Baptist; this is for everyone regardless of your denomination. If you believe God’s word as we do and want to be a part of us, then we invite you to be a part of us. How many of you want to receive Christ as your Saviour? How many of you want to follow Him as your Lord? I know some of you today have made the decision to be baptised. Some of you have decided you need to become a member of our church. Your membership is elsewhere, and today is the day to come forward and say yes I want to become a member. If you have decided today you want Jesus as your Saviour, you want to repent and receive Him, then you come forward is just a moment.. If you want to be baptised, you come forward in just a moment. If you have decided to become a member of our church, then you come forward. We are going to sing this beautiful hymn and as we sing it, if you have made a decision today, to become a Christian, to be baptised, or to join our church, then you come forward right now. Right now. People will hop out of your way.

Acts 2:41-47 "THE CHURCH … MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM"

Acts 2:41-47, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (2:42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (2:43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (2:44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (2:45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (2:46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (2:47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

1. This is all about the church’s Membership (vv.41,47b)

1. This is all about the church’s Maturity (v.42a) v.42
2. This is all about the church’s Ministry (vv.42b,44-45)
3. This is all about the church’s Meetings (vv.42c,46)
4. This is all about the church’s Miracles (v.43b)
5. This is all about the church’s Mentality (vv.43a,46)

This is all about the church’s Mission (v.47a) v.47

The scattered disciples from the Jerusalem church had "turned the world upside down". There was something about their friendship and love that changed others lives.

Let me tell you about the Clapham Church, an Anglican church in the Clapham District of London during the early 1800s whose "salt" and "light" dual ministry influenced the entire world. The Clapham Church was pastored by John Venn who was the Rector. Nothing much is known about him except the great world changing ministries of his parishioners. The church was influenced by the evangelical revival ministry of John Wesley. Whereas most of those converted under John Wesley usually left the Anglican Church to join Methodist churches, those believers in Clapham Church, generally wealthy and titled nobility, many of them actually members of the House of Lords, had decided to stay in the Clapham Church and create change from within.

THREE FRIENDS AT CLAPHAM CHURCH.

(1) Granville Sharp, a church member, was moved in his heart to do something about the slave traffic when Jonathan Strong, a black slave, showed up at his door—beaten almost to the point of death. Granville Sharp put the black man in St. Bartholomew Hospital where it took four months to restore Jonathan Strong to health and strength.

When the slave, Jonathan Strong, got out of the hospital, David Lisle, the slave’s original owner, re-captured the slave now that he was not going to die. Lisle thought that he had pistol-whipped his slave to death. Granville Sharp sued in court for the release of Jonathan Strong from David Lisle, and three years later in 1767, the slave was given his freedom. This was only one slave freed. Still, slave ownership and slave trafficking were permitted in the British Empire.

(2) William Wilberforce was the second significant lay member of Clapham Church. He was converted to Christ at Clapham Church. Wilberforce later used his power as a member of Parliament to bring an end to slavery. During his lifetime, he first got a bill passed that made it unlawful for any British ship or citizen to transport slaves. This was only the first step. Because of his efforts, a month after he died in 1833, Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act that gave all slaves in the empire their freedom.

(3) Lord Ashley, another believer from the Clapham Church, used his position in the House of Commons to pass a bill. This was the 1833 Factory Act which made it illegal for children under nine to work in the textile factories; and those between the ages of 9 and 13 could not work more than eight hours a day. In 1840, Lord Ashley led the parliament to approve the Coal Mine Act to prohibit women and children from working underground.

These people from the Clapham Church were nicknamed, "saints" for what they did for England, for the Church and for Jesus Christ. The Clapham church thus destroyed slavery in Great Britain which eventually ended slavery in America and in the English speaking world.

When Billy Graham was first becoming popular and well-known in America, someone complained. Billy Graham is setting the church back two hundred years. With a twinkle in his eye, Billy replied, "I have been trying to set the church back, two thousand years."

What does God expect of a church? What does God expect us to make of our church? The Book of Acts gives us the timeless pattern of Friendship that changed the world.

1. This is all about the church’s: Membership (vv.41,47b)

Acts 2:41,47 – Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day … And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The church in Jerusalem was growing in its membership because people were being saved and added to the church. Who did the adding? The Lord did the adding in that He places people in the body as He sovereignly chooses. People responded to the message of Jesus Christ that Peter proclaimed. Acts 2:36 "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. The message was being communicated clearly, correctly, completely and convincingly. And when the message was communicated the Holy Spirit did His work. The Bible says they were pierced in their hearts with the truth and they asked, "What shall we do?" And Peter told them.

They were to call on the Lord to be saved and then, as a consequence of that hey were to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, surely a radical demand made upon Jews. These people would be hated, ridiculed, and persecuted, but they still confessed Christ. And in spite of the clear, correct, complete, convincing, compelling presentation of the gospel, thousands came to Christ and were baptized. We don’t have to be ashamed of the gospel. And they were added to their number, added to the church. Believers belong in a church. That’s why we make such a big deal about church membership. These new converts were added to a local church. All true Christians must be connected to a local church.

· This is all about the church’s Maturity (v.42a) v.42 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…

"they devoted themselves…" – what a powerful word that is used to describe the way they pursued these things that produced spiritual maturity. The word means to be engaged in something … to busy oneself with something, and do so continuously and over a period of time. Question: How much time do you devote to your spiritual life and the life of the church? Is it just left over time when you don’t happen to have anything else to do?

"the apostle’s teaching" – The apostles were the leaders of the church. They were Christ’s representatives. And their teaching was the authoritative revelation given to and through the apostles by Christ to the church. This teaching ultimately became the foundation of the New Testament. And since the New Testament authenticates the Old Testament, the Bible becomes the means by which God reveals Himself authoritatively today. The word of God is so important in our church as we strive to mature as disciples. Why?2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…

Why does the Bible need to be central in the life of a believer and in the life of a church?

· Teaching – Showing you the way to live

· Rebuking – Chastening you when you leave the path

· Correcting – Showing you the way back to the path

· Training in righteousness – Showing you how to live consistently and stay on the path. The church at its best is all about maturity of believers, growing up in Christ. But the church at its best is all about …

· This is all about the church’ Ministry (vv.42b,44-45) v.42 – They devoted themselves to … the fellowship… The word means partnership or sharing. This indicates there is love, support, encouragement, sharing, etc. that flows both ways. This is essential to the church functioning the way it should. Most churches are filled with people who take and never give anything in return. This "fellowship" is the atmosphere or environment that exists in a church that results in authentic ministry flowing throughout. v.44 – All the believers were together and had everything in common. "were together…" – speaks of a physical proximity, but also speaks of a spiritual unity had everything in common…" – speaks of a practical unity v.45 – Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Remember that the city was filled with people from various countries and regions. The population of Jerusalem swelled during these festivals, creating a shortage of accommodations. Remember also that there are now at least 3000 new Christians … and the number is growing daily. Many of these who were saved were from other lands, but perhaps remained in Jerusalem, wanting to be part of the work that God was doing. Where will these people stay? How will they be fed? The solution was found in selling possessions and goods so that needs could be met. Resources were redirected to meet pressing needs of people. There may have been some who lost their jobs or were disowned by their families because of the their professions of faith in Jesus Christ. Understand that this was not communism. You can read in Acts 5 that this was entirely voluntary. No, this was Christian love flowing freely in the body of believers to take care of each other.

1 John 3:16-18 – This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. The New Testament is filled with many "one another" statements. I encourage you to do a study of this sometime. Here’s just a sample of those "one another" statements:

· love one another … · honor one another …

· be devoted to one another · live in harmony with one another …

· accept one another … · agree with one another …

· serve one another … · bear with one another …

· submit to one another … · admonish one another …

· encourage one another … · spur one another on …

· do not slander one another · be humble toward one another …

· greet one another

The church at its best is all about maturity and ministry and …

· This is all about the church’s Meetings (vv.42c,46)

That’s right, the early church had meetings. I know how most of us feel about meetings.

Remember the little ditty: "Mary had a little lamb, that would have been a sheep. He joined the Baptist church and died for lack of sleep."

I’m not talking about meaningless meetings. I’m talking about the importance of being with other Christians for the sake of edification, worship and ministry.

Now what did they do in their meetings? v.42 – They devoted themselves to the … breaking of bread and to prayer. "to the breaking of bread…" – Most commentators believe this has to do with the sharing in the Lord’s Supper. This is thoughtful expression of devotion to Christ by remembering the events of the cross. And this is worship. "to prayer" – corporate and individual prayer was the life-blood of the church.

v.46 – Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together…

These folks met every day in the temple courts, maybe sometime during the day where they would get together and pray and praise God. And in the evenings they would meet in homes and share a meal together called the agape feast, then they would partake of the Lord’s Supper. They met together in the large group, corporate setting where there was room to do so … the temple courts. This might be comparable to our worship gathering in the large group. Then they would meet together in small groups in homes where genuine fellowship, ministry and edification took place. There’s a reason why we’re told in Hebrews not to forsake the meeting of the church. We need the encouragement that comes from rubbing shoulders with other believers on a regular basis. Some of you are not walking with God because you spend very little time in meaningful relationships with believers.

The church at its best is all about maturity, ministry, meaningful meetings, and

· This is all about the church’s: Miracles (v.43b)

That’s right. There was an element of the miraculous in the church. v.43 – Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

"many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles…" – Acts is filled with descriptions of miracles. The miracle of tongues, healing miracles, the raising of dead people were evidence of the Spirit of God at work in a group of believers. This supernatural dynamic is what makes the church really powerful in its impact. God is still in the miracle working business. We need to pray for and expect things to happen that cannot be explained in any other terms but that God has done it.

And when there is maturity, ministry, meaningful meetings, and the miraculous, there’s going to be a …

· This is all about the church’s: Mentality (vv.43a,46)

When the church is at its best there will be a corporate mindset that is marked with:

1. Awe v.43 - Everyone was filled with awe… "awe" – refers to fear and

holy awe related to the sense of God’s presence. It reflects and attitude of reverence for the person of God. Repeatedly in the book of Acts we see people being struck with awe … when they witness a supernatural act of God in judgment (like in Acts 5). Or when something in the healing of some sick person. When people in the church and outside the church witness the activity of God among believers they were filled with awe. Conviction of sin is connected to this sense of fear and awe.

2. Gladness v.46 – The ate together with glad … hearts

"gladness…" – literally the word means rejoicing … not complaining, but rejoicing. Not grumbling, but rejoicing. Not cutting others down, but rejoicing in one another and in God. Not gossiping, but rejoicing. And when there was some bit of complaining that arises (as in Acts 6), the body moves quickly to meet the need and move forward.

3. Sincerity v.46 – The ate together with … sincere hearts, “Sincere" hearts were hearts literally "free from rocks." It speaks of simplicity of heart, singleness of heart, purity of heart. So we see church at its best in maturity, in ministry, in meetings, in the miraculous, in its mentality, and ultimately in its …

· This is all about the church’s: Mission (v.47a) v.47 – praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. "praising God…" – this means to recite His wonderful works and attributes. Joy comes to those who give glory to God. They went everywhere sharing the Good News of salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). God uses churches today who exist and make their decisions on the basis of “those who are not there yet,” that is, a lost world beyond the church doors.

"enjoying the favor of all the people…" – this was an attractive church. Even though they were open about their faith and praising God openly, they were well thought of in the community. "The Lord added to their number…" – God adds to the church those who are saved. When the church is what is supposed to be, the result will be growth.

A ten-year-old girl came home and tearfully told her mother, "I lost my best friend today. She told me that she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore and then she said some really mean things about me to everyone else." The mother comforted her daughter as best she could. She hoped that this difficult experience wouldn’t sour her daughter on giving to others. For to love someone else means that we are sacrificing a part of ourselves. We are exposing ourselves to possible hurt when we choose to love others. C.S. Lewis said it like this. "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness." Lewis knew that to not love at all was to be selfish. That is why the Lord Jesus loved us so unselfishly by laying down His life, not just for His friends, but for His enemies.

Acts 3 The Cripple Who Danced In Church

1 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. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23′And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

I. THE PERSONS GOD EMPLOYS IN THE MIRACULOUS (v.1)

1. Spiritual persons 2. Sensitive persons

3. Sacrificial persons 4. Supportive persons

II. THE PROBLEMS GOD ADDRESSES IN THE MIRACULOUS (v.2)

III. THE PRIORITIES GOD EXERCISES IN THE MIRACULOUS (v.1-11)

1. The Spiritual is more important than the Physical

2. The Eternal is More important than the Temporal

IV. THE PURPOSES GOD FOLLOWS IN THE MIRACULOUS (vs12-26)

The Explanation Of Jesus’ Vindication The Exhortation Of Repentance

The Expectation Of Refreshment The Invitation To Participate

Acts 3 The Cripple Who Danced In Church

In Dr. Luke’s summary of the life of the early church, he has told us in Chapter 2, Verse 43, that "fear came upon every soul" after the events of Pentecost. And, in the days that followed, he says, "many wonders and signs were done through the apostles." We have no record of all the wonders and signs done in that opening period, but we do have this one — the story of the lame man who was healed at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. Evidently Dr. Luke has selected this one from a number of miracles which occurred then, in order that it might teach us something very significant. So we need to give it careful attention. You notice that this lame man was seated at the gate of the temple. On their way they went through the Gate Beautiful, which opened to the Court of Women. This beautiful gate was huge–fifty cubits high and forty cubits wide. Overlaid with Corinthian bronze, it was truly a work of art. It might have also been known as the Nicanor Gate, named after a wealthy Alexandrian Jew, Nicanor, who supposedly donated it. Here Peter and John encountered a congenital cripple who was begging for alms. In ancient times, poor beggars often were found by rich people’s houses as well as by highways and anywhere else many people would pass. They were especially found near the temple gates, and this is still true today. This beggar was forty years old and had been a cripple all his life. He was not like Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who was crippled when he was five years of age, as we read in 2 Samuel 4:4. No, this beggar was crippled from his mother’s womb. No doubt the early years of his life brought great disappointment to his parents, but they loved him and brought him up according to whatever ability they had. Now this man was forty years old. Probably his parents had died and now he had to beg to support himself. One thing we must also note about this beggar is that, unlike the cripple at the pool of Bethesda whom we read about in John 7, this beggar had friends. The text tells us that he was carried to this beautiful temple gate daily and placed there to beg alms. Why do you think the beggar went to the temple gate? He knew that those coming to the temple to worship would probably be in a state of great mental piety and so they would be generous toward people like him. How could a person truly worship without showing mercy to a miserable beggar? How could someone resist tossing him a coin or two? Acts 2:43 says that "many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." There’s no question that there is a supernatural element to Christianity. It is not a religion of man’s works, but a demonstration of God’s work … supernatural, miraculous work through Christ in the lives of people.

I. THE PERSONS GOD EMPLOYS IN THE MIRACULOUS (v.1)

Acts 3:1 – One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now the miracle we have before us involves two men, Peter and John, who are apostles. We’ll talk in a moment about the uniqueness of the miracles performed by the apostles. But for a moment I want you to notice the remarkable change that occurred in the lives of these two men … changes that put them into a situation where God could do the supernatural through them. What kind of persons does God employ in doing the miraculous?

1. Spiritual persons You see some interesting things about Peter and John. Obviously they’ve just come through the most unbelievable transformation of their lives at Pentecost. And the experience of being baptized in and filled with the Holy Spirit was like nothing that had ever happened to them before. Since the great movement of God in their lives these two men and many others are changed … really changed. Obviously prayer is still an important part of their lives, but now more so than ever before. Prayer remained an important discipline in their lives. It was the ninth hour, or three o’clock in the afternoon, which was the usual time of prayer for the Jews. I’m also impressed with the unity of Peter and John. Maybe not always the best of friends, maybe they simply tolerated one another, but since Pentecost things were different. These men were more spiritually sharp than they had ever been in their lives. It has to be that way if God is to use you the way He desires. That leads to the next thing we see about these persons that God employs in the miraculous.

2. Sensitive persons Verse 2 says that they encounter a man at the gate called Beautiful. Most scholars believe it was the eastern entrance into the actual temple. It was a popular place for beggars to position themselves. This was the most popular prayer time of the day for the Jews, so there was a good chance they might pick up a few stray coins from the worshippers passing through the gate. Peter and John were among those who filed past. They heard the beggar’s request for money, like they no doubt had heard many times before since the guy had been there for years. But Peter saw the man through different eyes this time. Acts 3:4 – Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” The crippled man no doubt was looking for the next person to come through the gate and to give him money. But Peter and John had something else in mind. They engaged the man personally. Listen, when you are changed … really changed, when God does a genuine work in your life, you will not see people in the same way. You will be sensitive to their real spiritual needs. You will be sensitive to the fact that so many in our world are without Christ and without hope.

3. Sacrificial persons Now we learned last week that the church members after the great revival that took place on the Day of Pentecost began to share radically with one another. Peter and John were being truthful when they said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you." You cannot be involved in what God is doing in this world and be tight-fisted. It was a Pope who walking through the beautiful halls of the Vatican in Rome, and then admiring the architectural and artistic wonders of St Paul’s Cathedral who remarked. “No longer does the church need say, “Silver and Gold have I none!” The man with him remarked, :” and neither can it say “Rise up and walk.” A self sacrificing attitude towards the Gospel is sooo necessary. I have to say, that for the number of people attending our church, our giving is pretty miserable. How can we do anything as a church when we can hardly pay the bills to keep the place open. Our giving is reflective of the giving of a 50 person church. It is not the sacrificial giving that was characteristic of the New Testament church. God wants to work through you. Is your all on the altar? Is all that you have on the altar?…Are you and all you have available to him to use?

God employs spiritual persons, sensitive persons, sacrificial persons, and …

4. Supportive persons Now it was probably not necessary for Peter or John to touch the man. But there was a personal touch involved. Acts 3:7 – Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

In the process of reaching down to help a fellow human being, to support a hurting man in his weakness, God performed a miracle. It’s interesting that Peter may have watched Jesus do this very thing with his mother-in-law. One day Jesus went to the home of Peter’s mother-in-law who was suffering from a high fever. Mark 1:31 – So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

I am amazed at how often, when the Lord through a word could have healed someone, He stooped to touch them in their need. He touched them and made them whole. Why the touch? He sympathizes with people. God desires to use supportive people who aren’t afraid to touch hurting people … to risk something in helping others. These are the kinds of persons God employs in doing the miraculous.

II. THE PROBLEMS GOD ADDRESSES IN THE MIRACULOUS (v.2)

Now remember the man is crippled and people had been bringing him for years to the entrance to the temple. But the man never holds out any hope that he could be healed. He simply begs for money. Little did he expect that his life would be changed … really changed … on that day when he encountered Peter and John. So he asks for money, but God knows that there’s a greater need in his life. God knows what our greatest needs are. That may be why God doesn’t always give us what we ask for in prayer, because he knows that are greater needs than we can understand. Be careful what you ask God to do in prayer. We settle for so much less than what God wants to give us. This man could have simply been carried away from the gate that evening with a few pennies, instead the man walked away a changed man. Are you settling for less than what God wants in your life? When God goes to work in a situation He wants to really change people.

Here is this remarkable miracle. And because it occurs here in the book of Acts, there are many people who say, "This is what ought to be occurring in the church all the time. People ought to be healed like this every day. Anybody who is sick ought to have someone walk up to them and say, ‘In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise and walk.’ Miracles like this should happen all the time." There are many claims along this line. There are those who say it is actually wrong for a Christian to be sick. They tell us that Jesus died not only for our sins, but for our sicknesses as well. Quoting Isaiah 53, "by his stripes we are healed" {Isa 53:5c KJV}, they claim that Christians who rely upon doctors or even medicines are revealing a terrible lack of faith, for God has provided healing, just as he has provided redemption.This is the basis for the activity of many "faith healers" who hold large meetings in which they tell people that God expects them to be well, that it is only their lack of faith which keeps them from being well. And thousands of people are exhorted to come up and let someone pray for them so that they might immediately be healed. What about all this? Is this what this account suggest to us?

There are two classes of Scripture which deal with the subject of healing; therefore there are two purposes for healing set forth in the Scripture. I cannot deal with all the passages individually; time will not permit. So I will simply group them in these two classes:

First there are those which clearly indicate that healing miracles were intended to be authentications of the message of the gospel. That is, they were indications to the people at the beginning, or in any age in which they might appear, that certain people really are genuine messengers of God, that God speaks through them.

These are then what Paul calls "the signs of an apostle". In Second Corinthians 12 he refers to himself as having done the "signs of a true apostle" which, he says, are "signs and wonders and mighty works," {2 Cor 12:12 RSV}. Thus that promise is given to the disciples as authentication of their initial ministry. It is not a passage to be claimed by anyone, anywhere, who believes the gospel. This is confirmed by Hebrews 2, where the writer says that the Lord first preached the gospel, "and it was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, God also bearing them witness by signs and wonders and diverse miracles," {Heb 2:3-4 KJV}.

The second class of passages indicates that God does heal, in any age and at any time, and according to his purpose, by grace. That is, God is a gracious Father, and there are verses which suggest that we have every right to ask him to heal us physically, and that oftentimes he will do so. James 5 is a good example, where we are told, if anyone is sick, to gather the elders together and let them pray. God will hear the prayer of faith and raise the sick. James says, "Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed," {Jas 5:16 RSV}. This is perfectly right. These happen as a result of people praying and believing and God moving in response to that. Examples: Peter being released from prison, people praying for boldness to witness, praying for people to be saved, praying for the sick to healed, etc.)

James 5:14-16 – Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. There are repeated admonitions in the Scriptures for God’s people to pray for the intervention of God’s supernatural power in circumstances. The amazing thing to me is that we do not avail ourselves of this resource more often.

Now when God performs the miraculous there’s always a purpose behind it … God’s sovereign purpose. But God does not promise always to heal. There are numerous instances in Scripture when he definitely does not heal even those who are strong in faith. When Paul wrote to the Philippians he referred to his dear friend and theirs, Epaphroditus. They had heard he had been sick, and he said, "Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." Phil 2:27

Here is a clear instance when the apostle himself, mighty man of God that he was, could not heal a sick friend. But God spared him nevertheless, and restored him. So we simply have to put this miracle in Acts 3 in perspective. It was a great authenticating work.

With miracles we have to be very careful, because here is where there is so much room for Satan to work. Signs, wonders and miracles are not always of God. Did you know that?

Matthew 7:22-23 – Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 24:23-24 – For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 – The coming of the lawless one (the Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders …

Many so-called faith healers today are no more than religious con men, who have learned to use psycho-therapeutic techniques to make people think they have been healed. Some of these techniques were formulated by Franz Anton Mesmer, a physician and healer who achieved remarkable cures that are amazingly similar to today’s so called "faith-healers." Mesmer never used God’s name in his practice, but believed in an invisible, curative fluid pervading the universe that could influence the human body.

His method was defined as follows: The capacity of raising the emotional state of an individual, or a crowd, to an abnormal, but controllable intensity. How did he do this? Mainly through music. He would use emotional, repetitive music to control the mind and nervous system of his followers. The word mesmerize (named after Dr. Mesmer) has come to mean: "to throw into a trance" because the subjects would fall into a state of semi-consciousness. Two royal commissions investigating "Mesmerism" in 1784 reported that the convulsions of Mesmer’s patients were "marked by violent, involuntary movements of the limbs and the whole body, by constriction of the throat, by throbbing in the chest and nausea in the stomach, by rapid blinking and crossed eyes, by piercing cries, tears, hiccups and uncontrollable laughter." One military officer treated by Dr. Mesmer reported, "I know nothing of the means used by Dr. Mesmer. However I can say in all candor that, without treating me with drugs or any other remedy than what he calls ‘animal magnetism,’ he caused me to feel powerful sensations from head to foot."

Now I want to give glory to God for what is truly of God in the way of miracles. But we remember also that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Satan can work counterfeit miracles. That’s why you must test the spirits. Don’t look skeptically on the miraculous.

III. THE PRIORITIES GOD EMPHASISES IN THE MIRACULOUS (vv.6,12,16)

a. The Spiritual is more important than The Physical

God clearly can heal however and whoever He wants to whenever He wants to. A right view of God takes into account His sovereignty and His will and His love and His grace in all these matters. And it recognises the priorities which God gives in the miraculous realm.

Someone has well said that every miracle is a parable, designed not only to demonstrate the power of God, which can literally, physically heal instantaneously and completely, but also to illustrate, in symbolic form, people’s needs and the miracles that can happen in their inner lives.

And these outward miracles are pictures of what happens in the inward life. You can be crippled and lame and blind not only physically; you can be crippled and lame and blind spiritually.

"All my life, when I was a boy, I was so inadequate. I was always envying people who could do things. I always seemed to have all left thumbs, and I never could do anything. I was quiet and unobtrusive, a mouse studying to be a rat, and I envied those who seemed to have what it took. They seemed to have such adequacy, such confidence. I tried to produce that, studied all kinds of methods, tried this and tried that, but I never could learn it. I could never muster the adequacy I needed — until I found Jesus Christ, and I learned from him the great secret that he was my adequacy, that he would work in me, and that it didn’t make any difference what I was like, if I’d count on him, he would do it through me. It would appear to everybody else it was I doing it, but it was really he. That has changed my life. It has given me a real sense of confidence, until now my friends tell me they think I’m a very confident person. But I don’t have any more than I ever had — except I’ve found the One in whom I can be confident."

b. The Eternal is More important than The Temporal

This is the whole reason for the miracle. It points to the Purpose of the miracle. God’s purpose for the miracle was not primarily to heal this man, but rather that

Acts 4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

The purpose of the miracle was so that these people could hear the message of the gospel and having heard they may believe.

Sometimes God uses a miracle. Sometimes God uses a war, sometimes God uses a personal tragedy, sometimes God uses a miraculous conversion, but it is all so that people can hear about the Lord Jesus and the eternal salvation that is in Him.

IV. THE PURPOSES GOD FOLLOWS IN THE MIRACULOUS

a. The Explanation Of Jesus’ Vindication

12 "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

b. The Exhortation Of Repentance

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,

Hdee is what repentance is :26 in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

What is repentance not? Well, I want to tell you, repentance is not just being afraid of God. Sometimes people will get deathly sick and they’ll get on what the doctor says is the "death bed," and they’ll want to get religion. Now I believe in death bed redemption. I believe that folks can on their death bed repent of sin and get saved. I believe that. But I want to tell you, a lot of it is just being afraid of God. Dr. George Truett was Pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, for forty some odd years, and he tells that on one occasion a man who was a noted unbeliever in the city of Dallas. He was on a death bed, and he sent word to Dr. Truett to have the congregation pray for him, and if God would just see him through the crisis and let him live he would repent of sin and give his life to Christ and be faithful in church. And Dr. Truett in the gracious manner that he always did, he did that. He prayed. He had the congregation to pray. They prayed for the man’s healing so that the man could have an opportunity to be saved and be active and faithful in the house of God. Well, God let the man get well. Dr. Truett saw the man on the street the next week after he got out of the hospital and said, "Sir, I’m glad to see you doing so well. I know you’ll be in church this Sunday to make your profession of faith and receive Christ." And the man said, "Well, no, I’m not gonna be there. You know, Doc, while I was in the hospital I got behind, and I’ve got a lot of things to catch up with and someday I’ll do it." Dr. Truett tells that it wasn’t long that the man was standing, talking with a group of other men and he grasped his chest and fell dead. Did he go to heaven? I doubt it. For you see, what that man had on his death bed was not repentance. He was just afraid of God. And beloved, being afraid of God is not the same thing as repentance. Repentance is not just being sorry for sin. And there are a lot of people that are sorry for sin, but they are sorry because they got caught or they are sorry because they’ve contracted some disease as a result of their sin. But being sorry for sin is not repentance. You can be sorry for every sin you ever committed, but that’s not repentance. Repentance is not being under conviction. Man, I’ve seen people under conviction to the point that they would do about anything to get out of being under conviction, they were so miserably under conviction. They knew they were lost, and they knew that Christ loved them and died for them. But they didn’t come. You see being under conviction is not repentance. Simple reformation is not repentance. Turning over a new leaf.

"Well, preacher, I’ll tell you, I’m not going to drink anymore and I’m not gonna smoke anymore, and I’m not gonna kick my wife anymore." Well, that’s good. But that’s not repentance. Just a reformation is not repentance. A profession of faith is not repentance. Walking down the aisle and shaking hands with the pastor and filling out a card and getting baptized and joining a church, that’s not repentance. Beloved, you can do all of the things that I’ve just mentioned and not repent. And you can do all of them together. You can be afraid of God, sorry for your sin, under conviction, reform your life, profess faith, be baptized, join a church. You can do every bit of that and not repent, and I want to tell you, there are a lot of folks who call themselves Baptists have done just that. Never repented of sin. What is repentance? Well, there are two words that I think describe repentance. One is the word "turn." Look over in Acts, Chapter 20, verse 21. Acts 20:21. Paul is giving his testimony to the Ephesian elders of his ministry among them. He says in verse 20, "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance involves a turning. It is a two-fold turning. You turn from something, and you turn to something. You see, not even repentance alone can save a person. You can genuinely repent and still not be a Christian because it is not just turning away from sin. It is turning to Christ. Repentance and faith are not two separate things. They are two sides of the same coin. So real Bible repentance is turning from sin and turning to the Lord God. But the second word that speaks of repentance and defines it is a word "change." "What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart ." Repentance involves a change. There is an inward change, a change of heart, a change of mind.’ And there is an outward change, a change of life. And beloved, no outward change will ever be lasting until there has been an inward change of mind.
Fella who would go back to drink every few months. Sometimes he would go two weeks, sometimes a month, sometimes three months. But in time he would always do it again. Why? Because his outward change was never preceded by an inward change. So there has to be a change of heart, a change of mind, a change of attitude on the inside. I want to tell you, there are some folks, even some of God’s people, who need to change their mind about sin. It’s amazing to me how many of God’s people think of sin as something light and’ flippant. Now folks, if you want to know what God thinks about sin all you have to do is look at Calvary. That’s God’s statement about sin. God hates it. Jesus died because of my sin and your sin. There ought not ever be any question about what God feels about sin. When Jesus took our sin upon Himself, God put Him to death. God killed Him. That ought to settle forever how the Father feels about sin. Isaiah 53 said, "It pleased the Father (it satisfied the Father) to bruise him (the Son, Jesus Christ)." God bruised Him. God put Him to death as our sin bearer. He was our substitute. He took our sin upon Himself and our judgment upon Himself so that you and I could go free. Some of God’s people need to change their mind about money. The Word of God says we’re not to "lay up treasures on earth." And yet that is the obsession of many of God’s people. There was a day when God’s people talked about missions, and today God’s people talk about their portfolio. There was a day when God’s people talked about praying, and today God’s people talk about their financial assets. "Steve, what are your financial assets?" You want to hear them again? I don’t have any financial assets. Everything I have belongs to the Lord. I don’t have anything. You think I can call that property out there in Belmont Nth? Go down there to wherever.my mortgage is and tell those people out there that I own that piece of property. They’ll laugh at you. And even if I didn’t owe them any money and it was paid for, it’s not mine. It will still be there when I die. Somebody else will say it’s theirs. Those of you that have your deeds, just go back and look through all those years and years and years. Every piece of property you’ve claimed to own somebody else used to own it. Before them somebody else owned it, and before them somebody else owned it. Where are they? They’re dead. You can’t take it with you because it’s not yours. Some of God’s people need to change their mind about their money. Some of God’s people need to change their mind about commitment. So many of God’s people are content with being Sunday morning bloomers. They come out for a little while and then they’re gone. There are some folks like that. They come out on Sunday morning in all of their finery, but then don’t expect to see them again until next Sunday, and if there’s anything better going on you won’t see them then. There’s something wrong with that kind of commitment. I mean, what happens to Jesus between Sunday morning and Sunday night? You know on Sunday morning we sing, "Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we’ll be true to thee til death" and then lots of folks are not even true enough to come back on Sunday night. What’s wrong with us? Some of God’s people need to change their mind about their commitment. Some of God’s people need to change their mind about their service to the Lord. You ask some folks to serve in the nursery. "Not me. My kids are grown. I served my time." Like they’d been in prison.
Well, bless God, I want to tell you, you didn’t spend all of your time in the nursery with your child. There were times when somebody else had to change their dirty nappy besides you. You see? "Well, don’t expect me to sing in the choir. The choir is too big now. They don’t need me." Why listen, who told you that? God didn’t tell you that. "How do you know?" I asked Him. God told me He’d never in His life told anybody they didn’t need to sing in the choir because the choir was too full. Now God said that. Don’t worry. Don’t ask Him. He’ll tell you the same thing. A lot of folks need to change their mind about their service to the Lord, and if people will have a change of heart, a change of their mind, then that will lead to a change of attitude, a change of action. It’s a picture of a man walking one direction and he changes his mind and changes his direction at the same time. That’s what repentance is. It’s turning from something to someone, turning from sin to the Lord, turning from sin to Christ, changing our attitude which leads to a change of action. That’s what repentance is.

c. The Expectation Of Refreshment

. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23′And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Refreshment In The Forgiveness of sins and restoration of life.

Refreshment at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory as Saviour and redeemer and restorer.

d. The Invitation To Participate

Acts 4 The Evidences Of A Church on Fire

The church on fire, town reprobate: First time I’ve ever seen you in church. First time I’d seen the church on fire.

When church catches fire people turn up who you’d never expect to turn up.

Day of Pentecost church is a church ablaze. In the early part of the book of acts growth was recorded as by Additions, later on it by multiplications. by ad 70 half of population came to know the Lord, maybe 100,000

Like a bush fire…jumping from tree top to tree top.

Bush fire in California

Found a guy dressed in goggles and wetsuit and spear gun dead.

How come? Had been going for fish in sea. Caught in helicopter scoop

Imagine how he felt. .2000’ in air. Imagine what guy gfelt like. That;’s one way to come to a fire. Its an amazing thing to be in a congregation and ]have the sense that God is present.

“I knew this is where I belong when I parked the car. No one will ever speak to me… but I found these people are in love with Jesus and they are truly lovely friendly people.” A church on fire reaching out to the Lord and out to people.

Acts 3 Crippled from birth man. A Beggar He expected something from them, they ought to expect comfort and love from them in the gospel Acts 4:1

Free sample tables in grocery stores … have you seen them? You got your Jalapeno cheese poppers with Ranch dip, your popcorn shrimp sautéed in a mild garlic sauce, your slivers of pizza, your samples of the latest flavor of yogurt in a cough syrup cup. You see these little ladies with their tables and a little hot plate or griddle stationed strategically throughout the store. I’ve discovered that you can skip going to Burger king or McDonalds … just go up and down the aisles at Coles. You get a pretty balanced meal that way … free. And if you time it right, you might even make the circuit again and get seconds … put on a beenie and sunglasses and the little lady will be sure not to recognize you.

You see, we have something to offer, and our mission is to offer it – persistently, pleasingly, powerfully. You know that the sample lady is not there just to feed your hunger. She’s there to offer you a sample of something with the hope that you’ll buy the whole package. As a pastor this is one of the most daunting and perplexing issues for Christians … how to be an effective witness for Christ. How can we be a church on fire for the gospel?

The Evidences Of A Church on Fire

A church of ministers, a kingdom of priests.

1. We Must Serve the Right Master 8-12

Occasionally I come across people who feel themselves to be so mature so much a spiritual elite that they want to go beyond Jesus. These men were so in love with Jesus they just wanted to talk about Him

There are some folks that they feel they are a spritual elite, and all they want to talk about gifts, Holy spirit, experiences,

The apostles wanted to talk about Jesus

Jesus Redeemer

Christ Messiah

11.. you stumbled over this stumbling stone

Back in Bible days when they started building something a key to the building was the cornerstone. To us its nothing. We hollow out a stone and drop a time capsule in it.

The Cornerstone was the first consideration, it was the first stone laid. They tried to put it on bedrock because it would be the point of reference for everything.

Lines of string were run off the cornerstone to set the walls right.

Ps 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Isa 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. 17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

CORNERSTONE

A stone placed at the corner, or the intersecting angle, where two walls of a building come together. In biblical times, buildings were often made of cut, squared stone. By uniting two intersecting walls, a cornerstone helped align the whole building and tie it together.

This chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of the church, because "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12) and in Him "the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph 2:21). All who believe in Jesus find a solid Rock on which to build their lives.

The Old Testament passages were understood by the rabbis to be Messianic, and were properly so applied by the New Testament writers.

Matt 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

"`The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Eph 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

The wall of the OT was built upon the stone of the prophets

The wall of the NT was built upon the stone of the apostles

Jesus ties them both together tieing OT and NT together.

He is head of corner and you pushed Him away.

A church on fire is serving the right master.

Make sure that what you do you are doing in response to Christ.

There is a lot of cultish Christian practises out there today. If not careful you’ll be enslaved to other men, The Lord Jesus came to set you free from the power the practice and the penalty of sin, and from men’s notions. Where the church blazes they are preoccupied with Jesus

Jake Self, “This is the Lord’s church and if it ever becomes bro Tom’s church God will take you away from here.”

This is the Lord’s church and of it ever becomes my church then you watch how quick the Lord takes me out of here. If it becomes your church or some families church, watch how quick these folks lose their relationship with the Lord. If it becomes the Church of good music, we have lsot the plot. If it becomes the church of hymn singing, we have lost the plot, no matter how good these things may be, there can only ever be ONE Cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is HIS church!

This is the Lord’s church and my goal is to help you fall in love with Jesus

2. We must send the right message.

We could have talked about a lot of things but we gotta send the right message.

Pretty exclusive. No Other way.

The Only Salvation Acts 4:12

No one else is able to save. Why?

I. Because No One Else Has Been Appointed

God appointed Jesus before anyone rejected Him.

II. Because No Other Sacrifice Is Sufficient

He is the only eternal sacrifice (Rom. 3:25 and Eph. 1:7).

III. Because No Other Power Is Equal To Bring About A New Creation

IV. Because No Other Seed Is Imperishable

See 1 Pet. 1:23. His seed lives forever.

V. Because No Other Way Has Been Provided

Salvation is not of works. It is not our righteousness that matters.

Righteousness must be internal not just external.

VI. Because No Other Door Opens Into Life

All other doors open into death.

VII. Because No Other Foundation Can Be Laid

All else is sinking sand. See 1 Cor. 3:11.

VIII. Because No Other Bread Can Satisfy and Keep Alive

IX. Because No Other Water Can Quench Thirst

His water is "living water."

X.. Because No One Else Has Power Over Death

XI. Because No One Else Has A Place Like He Has

Our media and our national belief systems push us into multi culturialism and pluralism. These ideas say that there are many ways to God if there is one, and no way is exclusively right.

In February, 1959, seventeen men on an expedition called "Deep Freeze VI" went to the South Pole. During their spare time, they built a sixteen-square-foot chapel. They called it "The Chapel of All Faiths." On the inside, they put up an altar over which they put a picture of Jesus, a crucifix, a Star of David, and a lotus leaf (representing Buddha). An inscription was put on the wall that said, "Now it can be said that the earth turns on a point of faith."

However, the Bible does not teach that there is more than one right religion. It would have been easy for Peter and John to say things that pleased everyone. The early church would not have been persecuted if it had downgraded Jesus Christ. But the early church stood up for the truth.

If there are many ways to heaven then Jesus is a liar and He can’t save you because He would be a liar.

This is why we must be out there telling others about the Lord Jesus.

This is why are we having John Farr at our Oct 140^th church anniversary. Everything revolves around telling others of the Jesus Who is the only Saviour.

3. We Must Seek The Right Manifestation.

I go to a lot of churches that pretend to be on fire. They just look for ways to prove they are on fire because this spiritual gift is manifest. Etc

There is only 1 evidence mainly that a church is on fire – changed lives. Vs 13. here are some nobodies who became somebodies, their live’s were radically changed. I am looking at people here and I know your testimonies, its incredible the life changing power of Jesus. I was headed this way and I Now I am headed this way.

“I would have never have thought of that before.”

Beholding the man that was healed they could say nothing speechless

Here he was right before them. There he is they couldn’t do nothing about it.

A changed life. You can’t meet Jesus without having your life changed.

The greatest manifestation is that your life is changed. If you say you are a Christian but no change then you may be mistaken

4. We Must Share with the Right motivation.

Why do you do what you do?

Lett me ask this question probing How much of what you do for Jesus would you for Jesus if you knew that only Jesus would know if you did it?

Is there any positive secret side to your life? God honours it and nobody knows about it. What compels most people to do what they do in a church is that others know that they do it. How to get people upset? Don’t recognise or forget that someone did something. Is there anything that gets God happy that no one knows about. Someone who’s life you touch.

These Saduccees go aside “They’ve got us over a barrel We are aggravated, want to drink our own bathwater thinking how this will spread. We’ll threaten them!”

Now That’s the Wrong thing to do..

Here Peter and John’s answer: We can’t hep it!

It’s the right thing to do anywhere, anytime, anyway. How have you regarded the folks captured over there in Afghanistan by the Taliban? What if they did share their faith against the laws of that government? Was it wrong for them to do so?

We may say, “Well they went into that country knowing the rules.” Yes they did. Would you?

“Is there any truth that you hold so dear that you would be willing to give your life for it?” I asked Jess’s nephew that question last week. I was very pleased with his answer. “Well here in Australia we are not faced with that question are we? Or are we. We have 2 folks in Afghanistan who face the death sentence for proclaiming the gospel. Do I love the Lord Jesus enough to lay down my life for the gospel? Should I go there and share of Jesus and His love, knowing it will cost me my life?” I think the answer is yes! I hope it is anyway!”

Is the answer yes! For you? Whatever the cost, will you own Jesus as Saviour and Lord? In spite of Bin Laden, or in spite of whatever it may cost you? What is your motivation? Do you really love the Lord Jesus or not?

What was the answer of the disciples to the Saduccees who required them to keep silent about the Lord Jesus?

* What are we going to do? We can’t deny this miracle.

* Look at verse 17-18.

Their plan was simple – Let’s scare them! We’ll threaten them.

* Don’t ever speak about this Jesus again…

Let me ask you a question – "How would this have affected you?" (Many would not be affected.)

B. The Apostles Defiance – vs. 19-20

A. There was a compassion about what they spoke of.

To stop a Christian from speaking about Jesus is like telling: The wind to stop blowing * The sun to stop shining * The rain to stop falling * The flowers to stop blooming * The grass to quit growing "We can’t help but speak."

They are gonna be alive a billion years from now in hell and you not keep quite about it?

B. There was a compulsion

I heard about a blind man who had surgery and was healed. He left the hospital without thanking the doctor. The doctor was a little downcast. A few days later this man showed up with 5 more blind people.

Jeremiah said, "Thy word was like a burning fire shutup in my bowels."

Paul said, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel."

Because He’s told me to do it and there is something in me that compels me to share the gospel.

I would really ask some questions about my spiritual life if it was possible to sit with someone who needs to hear the gospel and I can keep quite.

I remember talking with a fellow at one church. He said “I just found out my work mate over the last 12 years was a Christian. He didn’t know I was either!”

If you work side by side with somebody and he not know you are a believer you probably are not.

Compassioned to speak, compelled to speak,

c. There was a Commanded to speak.

A church on fire shares the Lord Jesus Christ with a lost world. They take the Lord Jesus’ commands seriously. Even if you don’t feel like it, you better for your Lord has commanded it. You may say,

“I don’t feel comfortable with it? I don’t know what to say!”

In October we are going to commence a series of Sunday morning Pastors classes, here at 9am each Sunday morning, in Evangelism Explosion. It will give you the ability to speak a word for the Lord Jesus and to elad people to know Him. It will commence at 9:15 and finish at 10am each Sunday morning. You need to be involved. Come along and learn how to share your faith,

Well are you these 4?

If so then you are part of a church that’s on fire.

Now, the question I want to ask is, "Can people tell we’ve been with Jesus?"

Acts 3:19,20 Matthew 21:28 The Overlooked imperative

Russian pastors shy away from word believers, not all who believe are born again. Shy away from “commitment “ word.. because its not about what we do for Christ, but what he has done for us Eph 2:8,9. What word do you use for Christians? Tom asked, “We refer to genuinely born again people as repenters” Catherine Bee.. in China… 3,000 people jammed in. wires to units all around. Lord’s Supper. 1000 walked out. These are people who are not willing to die. We believe that when a person repents of his sin and by faith receives Christ as Lord, that is the same as a death sentence. Being baptized as a testimony of faith is a willingness to accept the death sentence. These are not willing to die.” Perhaps you’ve prayed a prayer, etc but nothing has really changed in your life. You were told there was to be a change in your life! You struggle with the same struggles as you did before. But nothing has really changed. Nothing is really different. Changed.. but nothing has really changed? Perhaps you have overlooked something very central to the gospel.. repenting. You can know a lot about Jesus and never really be changed. If you meet Jesus everything will change. It’s by faith. Coin has 2 sides. : Turning from sin, to the Saviour! An about face a 180, a change of mind resulting in a change of action. Afterwards he changed mind, repented and went. Why would the most despised get to heaven before them? Maybe you weren’t convinced you were genuinely a sinner… aware that in you there dwells no good thing. Turning from sin (not just some sins) to the Saviour. Booth God forbid we should ever preach regeneration without reformation.. etc. Redemption with repentance.

1. the Promises of Repentance God begins to answer the deepest needs of your life. Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 4 Promises :

a. you will be changed. Converted! 2cor 5:17 a brand new creation. Not just better resolutions, cleaning up your life.

b. Your sins blotted out, eradicated not just covered over. Not just doing your best to be what Jesus would have you to be. It doesn’t mean perfection, but sin is no longer held as a charge against you. The debt has been paid.

The charge is blotted out. You think I cannot pelase God he’s a cruel taskmaster and He will never be satisfied.

c. refreshed Psuche inner being exhilerated. There is a certain exhilaration in your heart and life.

Salvation is not a thing based on your feelings. But it does effect your feelings. I think I am the happiest person on earth. Others don’t have that!

d. Christ will dwell in you, living in you. There are things you wont do and there are things you will do. The Jesus you have wont just be a preached Jesus It will be an Indwelling Jesus.

2. A Picture of Repentance. Matt21 2 sons. Profession but no change. No rocket scientist here. It wasn’t the one who said it was the one who did! There are lots of religious people here who won’t get to heaven. You talk about what you believe.. all talk.. but no change. You didn’t turn from your sin so you might trust in Him. Repentance is not just hat you say or how you feel. No it is more. You are not saved by what you do.. but neither are you saved that doesn’t do something. James 2 faith without corresponding works is a dead faith.

3. The Proof of repentance. Matt 7 fruits commensurate with repentance. Lk3:8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. Paul Act 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. Behaviour. Work. Put your hand up , but wont go see a counselor. They wont pray opr do anything. The obvious is obvious. He doesn’t argue with God. About baptism etc. The repenter is someone whose works are consistent with God. No argument with God. Repentance ought to be a priority in your life. It’s the catalyst to conversion. Perhaps You’ve never really repented

4. The Priority of repentance Heb 12 Esau Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.Seek the Lord while He may be found. You have a window to repent. Its when you come under conviction that you are a sinner. Not just a few sins.. everyone admits that. Nothing in my hand I bring simply to Thy cross I cling!

Boy at orphanage in rags. “What have you to commend you to get in?” “Nothing but these rags!”

“I’m not such a big sinner.. you pick the sins you want to omit and commit. It doesn’t work that way. You come to God recognizing I am a sinner. And come as you are. Repent of trusting my church my parents to get me to heaven and turn to Christ only. Perhaps there are people here who want to repent. In so many issues in the things Gods has asjed you to do you are a no show: Devotion, tithing prayer, bible reading witness, bible study group… you’re a no show!

A young man drowned in a flood a good swimmer, river flooded gone out to an island grabbed rabbit on it. In hand clutching a rabbit. He gave his life because he wouldn’t release the rabbit. There is nothing in your life worth holding on to to take you to hell. No passion no lust no habit, is worth it.

To trust Him totally you must stop trusting in you totally. Repentance means you let go of everything and trust yourself totally to Jesus Mat 21:28 "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Acts 4:17-33 How to Settle Down if You’re Shaken Up

Acts 4:17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." 18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’

27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 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.

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

1. Fellowship With the Right People

Interested

Involved

Intercessory

2. Flee To the Right Person

3. Find The Right Perspective

Appraise your Situation

Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty

Apply The Scriptures

4. Focus On The Right Priority

Acts 4:17-33 How to Settle Down if You’re Shaken Up

If you think being Christian is easy, get ready for some statistics. If you think persecution of Christians is something that only happened in the dark ages, think again.

Right now, over the last few years 160 000 Christians die each year – for following Jesus.

More than 200 Christian churches have been destroyed in Indonesia recently. On the 10^th of October last year, as young pastor and his wife and three children were burned to death inside their church building on the island of Java. On the fourth of February last year in China, eight security officers arrived at the home of a 58 year old woman, at 7 o’clock in the morning. Mrs Zhang was having a prayer meeting with four other women. The security men took out a video camera and started recording. Gathering evidence. Then they searched the house. And ordered Mrs Zhang to come with them. She’s still under arrest, 16 months later; and she hasn’t been allowed to have any contact with her family.

In Southern Sudan, Christian men have been abducted by government troops, and thrown out of airplanes over the desert. As part of an official campaign against Christians.

And the list goes on and on.

The current situation in Afghanistan is very much in our thoughts this week.. The 2 Australians on trial by the Taliban for spreading the Gospel, Dianna Thomas and Peter Bunch, almost inevitably now will face the death penalty.

The current situation in Indonesia should give us concern. Indonesia has said it would close its borders to refugees, as it now believes that many refugees who have entered the country (and through it to Australia) were terrorists associated with bin Laden’s organization. Retired Brigadier d’Hage, and Retired General Grey confirmed this on Friday on the Today Show. The problem is that there is the likelihood of many of theses terrorists having already entered Australia. There should be a very real concern on our hearts lest the terrorist attacks that happened in the USA should happen here. Could the BUNSW have been bombed yesterday?

Brigadier D’Hage even made the statement that most Australians don’t realise we are at war, and have entered upon a long and bloody conflict. How To Settle Down When You Are Shaken Up? We are shaken up! We face a situation that could be nationally and personally devastating.

I want you to notice the situation in which the apostles and the small group of believers in Jerusalem found themselves. Notice here the activity of the Saduccees. Peter and John are confronted with cold hard killers. These are the ones who orchestrated the crucifixion of the Saviour. And these antagonists are still out for blood. They are out to destroy the fledgling church. They don’t want it to exist. Soon after this situation in Acts 4 we read of their destructive and merciless activities. Acts 8:1-3 At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Such antagonism and distress is not unusual even here in Newcastle. Just last Sunday week someone entered our building after money. I wound up facing down someone who had me concerned because he could have injured me. Eleisha asked if she could drive the car home. I had to reply , “No not today honey, I am too shaken up!” I couldn’t stand to be shaken up any further. What do you do if you’re shaken up?

1. You Better Fellowship With the Right People

"And being let go, they went to their own company …" Peter and John got together with their friends. Persecution drives people together. It is an important ingredient for the unity of the body of Christ. If we all confronted this hostile world together, we would be drawn closer to one another. What is a biblical local church? It is a community of God’s people, established by him–a company of those who are called out from the world. In the church the communion of the saints is a reality, so if the world persecutes us, the church becomes a place of support, peace, and acceptance. It is our family where we have fellowship with the Father and the Son, as well as with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is where we worship God together, fellowship with one another, bear one another’s burdens, and spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

In Hebrews 10:25 we read, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the day approaching." Do you have a church to go home to from the world of persecution, pressures, troubles, trials, and problems? Peter and John did, as we read in Acts 4:23, "On their release Peter and John went back to their own people." We see the same thing in Acts 12. Peter had been put in jail by Herod, but the angel of the Lord rescued him. When he realized that he was really free, Peter "went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where people had gathered and were praying" (Acts 12:12). Peter went home to his church.

Interested You need God’s people because they re interested in you. When you strike trouble, you better draw near to God’s people. It’s not so much the issue that God’s people can DO anything about situations which shake you up. It is just enough to know that they care. Sometimes we as a church aren’t aware of situations that have people all shook up. Please be patient with us. We would care of we knew.

Involved. In Acts 4:32, we read that everyone was "of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." If anyone had a need, someone else met it (vv. 33- 35). This tells us that where God’s people could do something, they did do something. Where there was a need they could meet they sought to meet it.

Intercessory

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’

It is safe to assume that the church was earnestly praying for Peter and John during their imprisonment and trial. In Acts 2:42 we are told that the church "devoted themselves to the apostles’ preaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." We see this also in Acts 12:5, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." We need a place to go home to, and the church is that place. There prayer is offered in behalf of those who are suffering and there we share our burdens and joys with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Being a member of a local church is a great privilege and responsibility. In fact, it is a severe punishment to be expelled from the fellowship of a local church. We as a church need desperately to be more intercessory. We need to be a praying church. I didn’t say are you a praying person. I think there is a necessity for you to be praying individually. But is this a praying church. We really are faced with a world crisis right now. We need to come together for prayer urgently. We need to pray together.

2. You Better Flee To the Right Person

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’

Baptist pastor, John Piper, has written extensively about the prayer life in a number of his books. His classic book, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, gives us some of his perspectives on prayer. "Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that he will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy, and exalts God as wealthy….Prayer is the essential activity of waiting for God: Acknowledging our helplessness and his power, calling upon him for help, seeking his counsel….Prayer is God’s appointed way to fullness of joy because it is the vent of the inward burnings of our heart for Christ" [133, 140, 145]. I love that last phrase, "…it is the vent of the inward burnings of our heart for Christ." This is much different from a merely mechanical practice of prayer. It is a heart that longs for Christ with such longings expressed throughout the day in prayer.

There is an absolute necessity that Australians should flee to God in prayer in this current crisis. Are we insensitive and unaware of our need? Then we are fools.

Their prayer begins with addressing God: "O Lord…." We must not let this slip by us for there are significant truths found even in the various names of God. This particular one is used only five times in the New Testament by Luke, Peter, Jude, and John (Luke 2:29; II Pet. 2:1; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10, with 3 of these references pointing specifically to Jesus Christ). It is the Greek word, despotes, from which we get the English word, despot. It means that He is the Sovereign Lord and we are His willing servants. It refers to His absolute reign as Sovereign over the universe so that every thing, animate and inanimate, is under His authority and exists for His glory. Alexander Maclaren made this claim about the implications in the use of this word: "God is the Master, we are His ‘slaves,’ bound to absolute obedience, unconditional submission, belonging to Him, not to ourselves, and therefore having claims on Him for such care as an owner gives to his slaves or his cattle…." He continues, "Unquestioning submission and unreserved dependence are our duties. Absolute ownership and unshared responsibility for our well-being belong to Him" [Expositions, vol. 11, p. 152].

Peter and John were arrested with malicious-intent by the Jewish religious leaders. The Sovereign Lord, the Divine Despot, delivered them as their Provider and Protector. There was gratitude even in the title chosen for addressing the Father. It was an acknowledgment that though the most powerful forces of this earth are arrayed against the least of God’s children, they are but pawns fulfilling the divine purpose and under the Master’s authority. It is an acknowledgment that our Father has our welfare in mind in all of His actions toward us. I think John Piper captures the thrust of this in one of his comments.

God is not looking for people to work for him, so much as he is looking for people who will let him work for them. The gospel is not a Help Wanted ad. Neither is the call to Christian service. On the contrary, the gospel commands us to give up and hang out a Help Wanted sign (this is the basic meaning of prayer). Then the gospel promises that God will work for us if we do. He will not surrender the glory of being the Giver [140].

This gathering of believers acknowledges God as Creator. "O Lord, it is Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them." Two of their leaders had just been released from captivity by the Jews. They knew they were frail and powerless to stop the strong oppression of the Jewish leaders. But, who were these Jewish opposers compared to God their Creator? Why should these believers who belong to the Sovereign Lord fear what mere men could do to them? As they thought upon the Lord God they began to drink deeply of the richness of His divine character. They approached God for Who He is…not as one who pathetically hangs on in heaven hoping that His children can pull through in the plights of life! He is the Creator of all that is! This is My Father’s world! I am His and He is mine!

My brethren, one of the vital dimensions of prayer is our taking the time to think upon the greatness of our God. We are to engage our minds to contemplate the revelations of God in His Word. We are to verbalize these thoughts of His character and majesty as we pray. These brethren had tasted of the goodness and grace of God, that’s why it is expressed in their divine acknowledgments in prayer. I believe the Psalmist had this same experience when he exclaimed, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,"…and why?… "To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple" (Ps. 27:4). ‘If I could only spend my time gazing at the depth and magnificence of the Lord, then that would satisfy me!’

The disciples lifted their voices high in earnest and unitedly prayed to God the despot. Why do you think they were so serious? Because they didn’t have a plan B. Their only hope was in God. They were not thinking about establishing a Christian lobby in Jerusalem and Rome or beginning a political action committee. They were not planning to appeal to Rome or hoping to influence the Sanhedrin through some powerful friends. And they were certainly not planning to compromise the gospel. Perhaps they thought of all the other things they could be doing rather than talking of Jesus. Perhaps they considered some nice getaway holidays where they might stay over a bit longer. Perhaps there were many alternatives that they could have planned and chosen to do. but they chose not to have a Plan B, but primarily to take their burden to the Lord.

At this terrible time world wide, we ought not to be trusting in the might of an Air Force or an Army to defend us. We ought not to be trusting in our allegiance with the USA to defend us. Primarily you and as I as believers ought to be seeking God’s face in prayer for the terrors that stalk at night or in the day time.

Ps 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Primarily this Terrorist situation should call you and I to prayer! If it doesn’t, there is something wrong with us! Paul Billheimer in his book Destined for the Throne says that "Any church without a well-organized and systematic prayer program is simply operating a religious treadmill." When it comes to really changing things, nothing works like prayer. Through prayer we tap into the limitless power and resources of the Lord. Through prayer the will of heaven is translated into ways of man.

3. You Better Find The Right Perspective

Appraise your Situation We have touched upon this a little already> We need to be realistic about our situation. See it for what it is. It is Life and Death. For the disciples and the early church, they were about to face absolute ruin in human terms. Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. We have a word for that: REFUGEE! Without house, without home, without human aid, without work and without hope in purely human terms. And yet they rejoice in prayer?

"Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 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.

Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty

In verse 28 the disciples prayed, "They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen." The early church believed in predestination, meaning what happens in the universe is what the God of creation, revelation and history ordains to happen. In the third chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith, "Of God’s Eternal Decree," we read about this in article one: "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established." There is no chance, in other words. God ordains everything that comes to pass.

The disciples understood God’s ordination and so they prayed, in effect, "O God of creation, God of revelation, and God of history, nothing happens which is not ordained by you, including the death of your Son. They killed Christ but you raised him, exalted him, seated him as Lord. Even this persecution is of your ordination." And in verse 29 we read, "Now, Lord, consider their threats." In other words, "Not only did they treat your Son in this manner, but now they are against us, his apostles, and we are experiencing their rage." But Peter and the others understood according to Psalm 2 that it was all in vain, fruitless, and that not one of their proud plans would succeed. They knew God was laughing in heaven because his plans always triumph.

God’s plans alone succeed. We read this also in the Ephesians 1:11, "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will." Let me assure you, all man’s attempts against God and his anointed will fail. And if you yourself are against God, I guarantee that your effort will become as naught.

How essential it is that we study and understand the Bible! The apostles and other believers received tremendous encouragement from their knowledge of Psalm 2. They had full assurance and peace knowing that any secondary agents–the people of the world, the devil, and the demons–could only do to them what the Sovereign God had already predestined.

Apply The Scriptures

"Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’

R.L. Dabney wrote, "The proper rule of prayer is the whole Word of God….There is no part of Scripture which may not minister to the guidance of the Christian’s prayers. But further, the Word of God is the rule of our prayers also in this sense, that all which it does not authorize, is excluded" [p. 720]. Does this mean that we are to randomly open the Bible, put our fingers on a verse, then claim it? Certainly not, though many operate by such a fallacy. The Bible gives us specific promises related to our redemption which are made to all believers, but it also gives us examples of those things that please God in our prayers.

Our hearts are to bow to the truths of God in faith. Our heads are to contemplate the truths of God in study. Our lips are to express the truths of God in prayer. I will guarantee you that if you study the Word of God, seeking to know what it means, you will have more to pray about within the proper use of Scripture than you will have time to pray!

4. You Better Focus On The Right Priority

Three things happened as a result of their praying.

Something happened around them. The place where they were meeting was shaken.  In Acts 4:31 we read that when the disciples finished praying, there was a great quaking of the building in which they were staying. God had heard their prayer and he was saying, "Amen" to this prayer offered in the will of God.

Something happened within them.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Now what is the filling of the Holy Spirit?  It is yielding completely to the control of the Holy Spirit. It is a mini-revival that can happen many times each day as we walk in step with the Spirit.

We’ve let some extremist steal the Holy Spirit from us. There is one Baptism in the Spirit many fillings with the Spirit in the lives of believers. The filling of the Holy Spirit is the basic response of the child of God to the Lordship of Christ.

This was a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. This is what we need also, rather than a Christian lobby or political action committees or negotiations with power brokers. We know how to do those things, and I am not opposing them because we may need all these things in a democratic country. But I am saying that what we really need is a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Something happened through them.  They spoke the word of God with boldness.  And notice how specifically God answered their prayer.

THE PRAYER GOES UP.  THE POWER COMES DOWN.  THE PROCLAMATION GOES FORTH.

- When Francis Asbury, and generations of Methodist itinerants or revivalists after him came to town, one of the first things they did as they dismounted from their horses was to ask whatever lay persons met them: "Got any praying people around?" "Where are the praying people here?"

Acts 4:17-33 How to Settle Down if You’re Shaken Up

The current situation in Afghanistan where 2 Australians on trial by the Taliban for spreading the Gospel, Dianna Thomas and Peter Bunch, almost inevitably now will face the death penalty. Megawatti stated that Indonesia has terrorists associated with bin Laden’s organization. Retired Brigadier d’Hage, and Retired General Grey confirmed this on Friday on the Today Show. The problem is that there is the likelihood of many of these terrorists having already entered Australia. Just last Sunday week someone entered our building after money. Eleisha asked if she could drive the car home. I had to reply , “No not today honey, I am too shaken up!”

1. Fellowship With the Right People 23

Interested show we care

Involved do what we can do 4:32

Intercessory corporate prayer 24, 2:42, 12:5

2. Flee To the Right Person 24-26

Waiting on God, turning from self

despotes -Provider, Creator.

Protector No Plan B : Psa 20:5 Some trust in Chariots

Without prayer, just a religious treadmill.

3. Find The Right Perspective 24-31

Appraise your Situation Real need 8:4 Refugees

Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty 28,29 Eph 1:11, Psa 2

Apply The Scriptures 24-26

4. Focus On The Right Priority

Something happened around them. The place where they were meeting was shaken.  31 God’s "Amen" to this prayer offered in the will of God.

Something happened within them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. yielding mini-revival one Baptism in the Spirit many , rather than a Christian lobby or political action committees or negotiations with power brokers

Something happened through them.  They spoke the word of God with boldness

Francis Asbury, "Got any praying people around?"

Reconnecting With God

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 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. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose -and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

1. The Process Of Drifting

The Drift is Careless

The Drift is Unintentional

The Drift is Gradual

The Drift is Universal

2. The Peril of Disconnection

a. The Hearing Is Hindered.

b. The Heart is Hardened.

c. The Health is Hit.

3. The Privilege Of Reconnection

a. Hear it Seriously

b. Heed it Faithfully

Reconnecting With God

M and X entered my office. It wasn’t long before the purpose of their visit was evident. M had been unemployed for a long time, and x was supporting him. But in M’s spare time, rather than look for work, he was enjoying time with his mates, living a carefree, relaxed, laid back lifestyle. When X was coming home, he was going out to be with his mates. Their marriage was drifting apart. He was neglecting his relationship with X, even though she was doing everything to support her husband and her child. Their relationship was drifting further and further apart. He was too lazy and too dense to do anything about it, until finally someone turned up who paid her a little more attention than her husband. Soon the marriage broke up. M had let his own selfishness and laziness cause him to neglect the one thing of any real value in his life, his relationship with his wife. They began to drift apart, and their lives were ruined. This story represents a very important reminder in Scripture about the possibility of drifting from God.

1. The Process Of Drifting

In Heb 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

The book of Hebrews is about the greatness of Jesus. In Hebrews 1 He is greater than the angels, He is God the Son, come to earth, to take away our sins. He is greater than the sacrificial system. His blood shed for us actually brings pardon and forgiveness and peace with God. How great a Saviour we have, for He is:

- Heir of all things and the Creator of the world

- He is the radiance of the glory of God – the exact representation of the divine nature

- The sustainer of the universe and purifier from sin

- The One Who sits at the right hand of majesty on high

- He is worshipped by angels

- The Lord of Creation – Unchangeable – Everlasting God (2-12)

And so the Author of Hebrews exhorts us not to drift away from such a Saviour. To Drift away from Jesus. Picture a boat on a river. I love row boats ( as long as I don’t have to row them). As a young person we used to have youth activities regularly in the Royal National Park south of Sydney, at Audley, where we would hire boats and try and sink each other in the Port Hacking river. One time we rowed the boats miles up the river, tied them up and went for a hike before lunch. It was great, till we arrived back at the boats and found that the boats were gone. They had untied themselves and drifted a mile or so down stream. There is the picture of drifting. Is it possible to Drift away from the Lord Jesus? Most certainly, and here is the biblical example of such drifting.

The Drift is Careless

Ananias and Saphira’s sin was not one that suddenly overtook them. As one has rightly said, “No one becomes suddenly wicked!” there was a gradual drifting away from the Lord in their hearts. The things of this world had filled the eyes of that couple. They still wanted to be known as godly people, and so they cooked up this little conspiracy in their hearts. “Let’s say we are giving all we get from the sale of this paddock to the church. They don’t have to know whether we are giving the whole lot or not. We’ll keep back a little for ourselves.” They were well within their rights to do so, Peter explains.

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

But they sought to lie to the Holy Spirit and to the church. They were acting hypocritically, and they knew it. How could they have gotten to that state spiritually? Well, it starts slow. They had hardened their heart to the things of God. They were not treating the Lord with the care He requires.

Paul, when talking of the importance of communion, the Lord’s Supper, speaks of the tendency of some of the people of Corinth to turn the Lord’s table into just a church lunch. 1 Cor 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?

Paul then speaks of the way the Lord regards such light treatment of the communion meal.

1 Cor 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Could it be that you are drifting spiritually? The things of God have become common fare to you. Bringing God’s Word with you to church I a burden to heavy to bear (“besides Steve will have the passage printed for us”. Perhaps the things of God have become a burden to onerous. You are drifting.

The Drift is Unintentional

The Author of Hebrews highlights the tendency to “neglect so great a salvation.” This is not necessarily an intentional act on our part. But it might stem from laziness or slothfulness in our spiritual disciplines or unfaithfulness in attending the proclamation of the Word and worship with God’s people. It does not take much for our hearts to get cold. What we struggle with is no different from what Ananias and Saphira struggled with. A little neglect of reading and meditating on the Word, a little neglect of the prayer life, a little neglect of assembling with the body of Christ, a little neglect of the fellowship of kindred minds tends toward weakening our spiritual resolves. I do not believe that it is simplistic to say that most of our spiritual problems of coldness and apathy come because we neglect the very means that God has given us to keep our hearts passionate toward him.

Are you truly engaging your mind and passions on Jesus Christ? You might complain that God is not doing this or that for you, or that the church is failing you here and there, but it may be that the very problem rests in your own neglect of the salvation that is in Jesus Christ. Your neglect is manifested in your ingratitude for the gospel and your apathy toward spiritual disciplines. So I counsel you in light of our text, take action, “pay much closer attention to what we have heard” concerning Jesus Christ and the gospel.

The Drift is Gradual

The Drift is Universal

Our whole world is a battlefield covered with wrecks occasioned by neglect. If you’re on a pushbike riding up a hill and you don’t keep going forward as you push your way up the hill, you’ll soon go backwards.

2. The Peril of Disconnection

Heb 2: 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

He asks the question: “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” The picture of drifting away in the first verse shows the scene of a boat that has broken away from its mooring and slowly, unnoticeably drifts into the open sea or heads toward the peril of hidden reefs. Now the question of the third verse arrests our attention. Is there an escape for anyone neglecting salvation in Christ? Especially, is there escape for those who have heard the gospel in its fullness and richness over and over? Can we escape when we are no longer anchored in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

a. The Hearing Is Hindered.

The point here is that God the Holy Spirit resides in every one of us. Nothing we do is done in a corner. The naturalist in the world says, “God is not at work. If there is a God, He wound the world up and let it go and He is not at work in the world today.” But the supernaturalist, the man who believes in a God who cares, who is both transcendent and condescendent, says, “Oh no! You are mistaken! God is very much at work in this world.” The Holy Spirit is the way God works in this world.

What is striking to me here is the example of the constant presence of the Holy Spirit making expectations of our lives. He makes expectations of me and of you. He makes expectations of every believer. You never escape His view and His judgment. He always knows your motive. He always knows what you are doing. He gives you counsel.

Now the question is: when we are not living according to the Spirit’s expectations, and He points that out to us, do we listen to the Him? Do we listen to what the Spirit says? Now here, failing to listen to the Holy Spirit takes two forms. In verse 4, Peter said that Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost. “You have not lied to men, but to God.” This sets everything we do into a slightly different order, so that, even if I offend you, my first offense is not against you. My first offense is against God. It is against the Holy Spirit who lives in me.

Evidently the Holy Spirit had spoken to Ananias, but he would not listen. He lied in spite of the Holy Spirit’s check. Peter said, “When you sold the land for this much, and you only gave this much, but said you were giving all, then you have not lied to the church, you have lied to the Holy Spirit.” It is an awesome thing to fall into the hands of a living God. It is an awesome thing. We need to be reminded that God is a holy God who gets very angry with sin. He loves the sinner, but He gets angry with sin. We dwell under the wrath of God for sin.

When we lie to the Holy Spirit, in spite of His expectations, presence and help, we do great damage to the relationship we have with the Holy Spirit, who is a person. How many times would I have to lie to you before you would no longer trust me? How many times could I lie to my wife, before she would not be able to trust me? Not many, in spite of the fact that she loves me.

Mt. Saint Helen’s erupted a few years ago. It was May 18, 1980. Fifty-seven people were killed. The interesting thing is that some people heard the explosion of Mount Saint Helen’s 60 miles away. Yet those who lived at the base of the mountain never heard a thing. Now, how could that be? Scientists explain that when the eruption came, the noise, along with all the debris, went straight up into the air and dissipated and fell down over a 60-mile radius. However, right around Mt. Saint Helen’s itself was a silent zone, in which no one heard the eruption. The sound had gone up and dispersed out.

Do you know what has happened to many of us in the church and to much of the Body of Christ? We are so caught up in activities and going round and round with busyness that we have entered a silent zone. We are so close to the activity that we cannot really hear what God is doing and we miss His voice. It is possible to be so busy going to meetings and doing this and that thing, that we enter the spiritual quiet zone and miss everything the Holy Spirit says to us. Thus it becomes easy to lie or test the Holy Spirit with impunity. It becomes easy to push Him off and act as if He is not even there, if you are in the silent zone. You are so close to the activity and the bundled up stress of service that you cannot hear what God is really saying.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe tells about the man with a hearing problem in Leeds, England who went to the doctor. He already had a hearing aid. When the doctor removed the aid, his hearing immediately improved. He had been wearing it in the wrong ear for twenty years.

One pastor was asked if he had a deaf ministry in his church. He replied, "Sometimes I think the whole church is deaf!" We are called to listen better to the truth of the gospel. Dr. Griffith Thomas has said, "With familiarity truths tend to lose their influence, and the result is involuntary gradual backsliding."

b. The Heart is Hardened.

Neglect leads to drifting, and drifting leads to defying (Heb. 12:14-29). There is always progression.

There is even more trouble in this account. In Acts Chapter 5 verse 9, Peter tells Ananias’ wife that she has tested, or tempted the Spirit of the Lord. This implies that she had been warned over and over again. Even after all that, she went ahead and lied, and in doing so, tested, or tempted the Holy Spirit.

However, Sapphira did tempt the Lord. You know, it is possible spiritually to get to the place where we can hardly hear God speak. We just go our own way, caught up in the world’s idea that we are the centrr of our universe. Her heart was hardened.

Heb 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

"Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ "

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (DRIFTING!!!!!!) 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 1

Could one be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin? Surely not?

I guess one of the classic examples of a man drifting away from the Lord for the sake of popularity, for the sake of prestige, for the sake of fame and pleasure is Ex President Bill Clinton.

His stepfather regularly got drunk and beat his wife; and once was arrested for firing a gun into the wall of his house. Partly to escape this domestic chaos, Bill began attending the Park Place Baptist Church when he was eight years old.

Every Sunday morning young Bill Clinton would put on a suit and walk a mile down the sidewalks of Hot Springs to church, clutching his leather Bible. At age ten, he made a public profession of faith and was baptized. A year later, Clinton asked a Sunday School teacher to drive him fifty miles to Little Rock to attend a Billy Graham crusade. He admired the evangelist for resisting pressure to segregate his crusade, and from then on Clinton set aside nickels and dimes to send to Graham. School teachers thought Bill himself might grow up to be an evangelist. As he attended Georgetown, Yale, and Oxford universities, Clinton’s religious fervor cooled. In a stunning upset in 1980, he lost his bid for reelection as governor. Clinton felt depressed and aimless. Problems in the marriage surfaced, and rumors about Bill’s alleged extramarital affairs began to spread.

In 1980, two events occurred that Clinton now cites as markers pointing the way back. First, his daughter, Chelsea, was born. Second, he took a pilgrimage to Israel led by the Reverend W. O. Vaught. The minister became a kind of father figure for Clinton, and soon afterward Clinton joined Vaught’s church, started singing in its choir, and for the first time in his life began serious Bible study. C. S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity also played an important role in Clinton’s spiritual renewal. In person, Bill Clinton talks freely and convincingly about his faith. I have not met a single Christian leader who, after meeting with Clinton, comes away questioning his sincerity. One Christian college president is ‘absolutely convinced of his deep and sincere faith,’ and says the president knows his Bible. Edward G. Dobson, pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids: "Does Clinton know the Scriptures? Is he affected emotionally by things like prayer? Does he go to church every week, carry his Bible, claim to have a relationship with Christ? The answer to all these questions is yes. I believe he’s more deeply spiritual than any President we’ve had in recent years."

But he was drifting! And, like Ananias, that which he treasured most was ttaken from him by the Lord. The Lord took Ananias’ life. The Lord exposed Bill Clinton’s life.

c. The Health is Hit.

This passage is not saying that all health problems are caused by God dealing with some particular sins. But in this case it was. And in some cases, health issues are sin related.

The Holy Spirit is your Comforter. He never leaves you! He knows everything you do. When we are inconsistent with what is required of the believer’s life, the Holy Spirit is the agent of discipline. He can correct us. He can make us very miserable, also. He can even take our lives. John talks about the sin unto death, and Paul prays that the man in the First Baptist Church of Corinth who was committing sin with his stepmother would be delivered up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of Jesus. A truly saved man might bear the judgment of the Holy Spirit, so that his spirit might be saved.

When this occurs, Heb. 12:6-11 teaches that as His children, He will chasten in order to correct. In the case of Ananias and Saphira, the Lord took them right out of that place. He removed them from the ministry and membership of the Jerusalem Baptist Tabernacle.

Whether it was a heart attack or some other physical cause of death, it is clear that the real cause of death was an act of God’s judgment. When the insurance forms were completed the cause of death would be listed as "an act of God."

3. The Privilege Of Reconnection

We must all agree that this text is somewhat frightening! For it demonstrates to us the seriousness of the gospel while at the same time warning us of the dangers found in our own hearts. But rather than the text creating fear I believe it is given to promote action on the part of all who believe. Yes, for those who are neglecting the gospel, there is good cause to fear! But for you who love Jesus Christ, who have known his saving power at work in your life, and who desire to follow after him, this passage serves as a stimulant for progress in the gospel. There are two actions that are called for in our text.

a. Hear it seriously

We must listen with seriousness to the gospel. When the gospel is being proclaimed we must seek to devote our minds to grasping all that it reveals concerning Christ. To be daydreaming or whispering or thinking on other things imperils our understanding of Jesus Christ. We may think that the gospel is elementary and that we already know all of it. But if we truly know the gospel we realize that it is not reduced to 4-laws or wholly contained in a little tract or booklet. The gospel speaks of Jesus Christ in the fullness of his person and work. There is nothing elementary about that! Indeed we must know the basics of the gospel in order to understand and believe; but the gospel contains enough wealth and treasure for us to feast on the rest of our lives. This is why the writer tells these who have professed faith in Christ, “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.” He is talking about paying closer attention to Jesus Christ and the glories of the gospel. His whole epistle engages our minds on the riches of Jesus Christ and the gospel. So we must hear it seriously.

In this let me recommend that hearing the gospel demands discipline. We must prepare our minds long before entering to worship or to study. What fills your mind during the week will have some affect on how you hear on Sunday. We all have responsibilities, jobs, or school that require so much of our thought; that is understandable. But do we take the time during the day to read the Word and ponder its meaning? Do we indiscriminately indulge our minds throughout the week on things that will adversely affect our hearing the Word on Sundays? We ought to ask the Lord to enable us to hear the Word. Do you pray for understanding? We should also seek to worship the Lord as the Word of God is expounded, for it is in that encounter with the Lord in the proclamation of Holy Scripture that we are helped to worship in spirit and truth.

b. Heed it faithfully

The opposite of “neglect” is to heed. That is the call given to us by this text. Rather than drifting away through neglect of the great salvation that is ours in Jesus Christ, we are to faithfully heed the gospel. Very simply, this means that you believe and keep on believing the gospel. You see the gospel as your meat and drink. You find the gospel to be your very passion.

This cannot help but have a radical effect on our lives. For as we love the gospel, feast on the gospel, think about the gospel, and discipline ourselves according to the gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ permeates every part of our lives. The gospel works its way into our conversations. The gospel strengthens us as we face the uncertainties of life and the difficulties before us. This permeating gospel helps us with our assurance of salvation, which in turn helps us in our praying and serving and worshipping.

In Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 30, Paul warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit.“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” It is a reminder that you were sealed with Him, but He lives with you and you can grieve Him. Now the word grieve here is “to make sorry, to cause pain.” It hurts the Holy Spirit to see you talk people down, verse 29. It hurts the Holy Spirit for bitterness, wrath, anger and clamor to come out of your mouth, verse 31. It hurts the Holy Spirit when we refuse to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. It hurts the Holy Spirit. It grieves Him. It causes Him pain. It is like a friend who lets you down. You understand what that means! I have been let down. I have had people that I counted on, men and women of integrity and then, suddenly they let me down. It grieved me. It caused me pain. When a church member falls, or another pastor falls, it causes me deep pain. I have been brokenhearted. I know that there are times that I have grieved my wife when I have caused her pain by my carelessness. It is true of the Holy Spirit. We can cause Him great pain and sorrow when we grieve Him.

One day a five-year-old girl was corrected by her mother for doing something wrong. She said, “Momma, why do we do bad things?” Her mother said, “Well, sometimes the devil speaks to us and tempts us to do bad things and we do them. We obey him.” The little girl wondered, “Doesn’t God speak also?” The mother replied, “Yes.” Then the little girl said, “Why doesn’t God speak louder?” You see, it is our business to listen so that we don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:27-42 Persevering Under Persecution

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 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; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest you even be found to fight against God." 40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

1. Expect Persecution

2. Examine Persecution

3. Endure Persecution

4. Entrust Persecution

5. Employ Persecution

Acts 5 Persevering Under Persecution

These are the days that try men’s souls"…not an original opening line but very fitting for the present set of world circumstances. This is not only an international crisis that will test the will of our nation, it is also a faith crisis as it allows us to examine the validity of our faith. When times are good and we do not feel threatened, it is easy to use the language of faith, to repeat the rituals and routines of the Christian life and give little thought to what it means to trust God. But in uncertain times, cliches and empty-hearted repetition do not calm the troubled soul. These are times which will try our souls as Christians!

A leading authority on religious persecution sees a connection between the Osama bin Laden terror network and persecution directed against Christians in a host of countries. "He’s tied in with a lot of persecution," Paul Marshall, British-born author of "Their Blood Cries Out" and a senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C.
"In many settings it’s radicals within his network who are carrying out persecution," Marshall said. "This is going on in the Philippines, Indonesia and to some extent Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and, of course, Afghanistan." Meanwhile, bin Laden is allied with other terrorist groups in Algeria and Nigeria that have been killing Christians, Marshall said. Bin Laden’s had a lot of cooperation with Sudan — a major country in the world killing Christians. The death toll in Sudan since 1998 is 2 million; that is more than every war in the Middle East in this past century. Most of these victims are Christians." Marshall views bin Laden as the figurehead of a far-reaching organization which seems to lack hierarchical structure. However, if Osama bin Laden drops dead tomorrow, the situation has hardly changed. Zawahiri would take over — and he’s probably worse," Egyptian doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri is bin Laden’s top lieutenant. Bin Laden has a network of independently active organizations. It’s not as if an order comes down from Kabul or Kandahar to Indonesia to go out and attack people. They are allied; they have common goals — it’s not top-down. Marshall said bin Laden is a convenient symbol in a media-driven age. He’s a visible figure. He’s tall; he’s 6-foot-4. We might hate him, but he happens to be handsome and charismatic. In our news media, particularly TV, we like to symbolize it with a person. Next to the Westernised Saudi government, bin Laden’s hate list includes moderate Arab governments, Marshall said: "He wants to overcome those Muslim regimes that have sold out to the West, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Malaysia. "Third, he wants to attack those who in his view oppress Muslims, such as Israel, Russia [stemming from the strife in Chechnya], India (because of Kashmir) and several other countries including America and Australia. "That’s his priority list of grievances, but it’s not his military list of priorities," Marshall said. "He can’t do anything about the first two groups unless he does something about the U.S., because [in his mind] they’re the ones who stop him. " So in terms of his strategy, America, and Australia as a perceived satellite Christian nation are the groups that needs to be addressed first. The United States is like a bodyguard who must be removed first. The official name of "Al-Qaida," is "World Islamic Front for Holy War Against Jews and Crusaders," a name taken in 1999 when bin Laden merged with Egypt’s Islamic Jihad. "For him, Jews are allies of the Christian West," Marshall said. In some respects, Christians are a greater problem than Jews in bin Laden’s eyes because he perceives Christians as larger and more powerful. "For him, America is Christian, Britain is Christian, Europe is Christian. Australia is Christian. "In Kaduna, Nigeria, over 5,000 people have been killed since the imposition of Islamic law," Marshall said. "In Pakistan in 1997, the city of Shantinagar was leveled, razed, a city of 20,000 people," he said. "The death toll in Ambon, Indonesia, is 5,000 to 6,000." These numbers pale next to Sudan, Marshall reiterated, with 2 million killed. "Two million, that’s a hard number," Marshall said. "That’s not pulled out of the air." Marshall has personally examined extensive documentation of the Sudanese carnage. The victims have been primarily Christians, along with some animists.
These are days that try men’s souls. Persecution of Christians is no new thing. The book of Acts has some tremendous insights that we can learn from the way the Apostles handled persecution. For the early church, persecution was a blessing. That is still true today–persecution is a blessing to all churches and all believers. There were five organized efforts within eleven years to persecute the church in Jerusalem. Acts 4 and 5 records the beginnings of those efforts. The church has always suffered persecution, but it is more subtle today than it used to be. Today, Satan usually directs persecution not to a person’s physical body, but to his ego. He focuses on pride, the desire for acceptance, or the desire for status. That’s very effective. Satan doesn’t often threaten a Christian by saying, "If you witness, I’ll cut your head off." He threatens a believer by saying, "If you witness, you might lose your job, your status–or someone might think you are strange." But no matter how Satan carries out his persecution, he is always antagonistic to the church. Sometimes he persecutes the church in an obvious and flagrant manner; other times he subtly persecutes the church by making Christians not want to offend others so that they might maintain the acceptance or status or satisfy their ego desires. How are we to handle persecution in times like these?

1. Expect Persecution

In John 15, Jesus made a statement to His disciples that warned the church to expect persecution. He said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you …" (Jn. 15:19-20). Jesus also told his disciples to expect religious persecution: "They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (Jn. 16:2). Peter said that we will receive persecution. In 1 Peter 2:21, he said, "For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps." When you confront the world, it will react violently. Some people succumb to Satan’s persecution and never confront the world because they want to save their egos from being persecuted. But Paul said to Timothy, "… all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). Everyone who follows Jesus will suffer persecution. First Peter 3:17 says, "It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing." First Peter 4:14 says, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you." In verse 19 of chapter 4 he says, "Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator." So three times Peter said it can be God’s will for believers to suffer persecution.

What is God’s will for our lives. He wants us to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:18), sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3), and suffering (1 Peter 4:19).

2. Examine Persecution

However, our suffering shouldn’t be self-inflicted. God doesn’t want us to flagellate ourselves. The suffering Peter described is not like that of the man in the Philippines known for crucifying himself every year in an attempt to please God. It is persecution for righteousness’ sake, delivered by an evil world offended by true righteousness.

It’s true that if you live a godly life, unbelievers will be drawn to you. But as soon as they find out more about you– unless they come to Christ–the way you live will repel them. That happened with the early church. Acts 2:47 tells us that people looked favorably upon the early church. In Acts 3, people became excited when they witnessed the healing of a lame man. But when Peter began to preach in Acts 3:12 about what the church stood for, negative reactions became manifest. In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a lame man as they were about to go into the Temple (vv. 1-8). A crowd developed in the courtyard. Peter and John, with the healed man between them, stood on Solomon’s portico. Peter then preached a powerful message about Christ the Messiah, and indicted Israel for executing Christ. He closed with an invitation in verse 19: "Repent, therefore, and be converted …." Peter confronted the world. While people were doing their religious duties in the Temple, he told them that they were wrong to have executed Christ. That’s the kind of confrontation that brings hostility from the world, but God expects us to confront the world. We are not to hide so that we can protect our name, ego, or status among unbelievers. Whenever preaching produces conviction, men react sometimes with violent hostility, sometimes they are tolerant but indecisive, and other times they come to Christ.

(Acts 5:33)"[They] took counsel to slay them." The Sadducees saw only one thing to do: kill the disciples. How could they conclude that in the face of all the evidence? Verse 16 indicates that every sick and demon-possessed person that came into Jerusalem seeking healing was made well. Yet the Sadducees blinded themselves to reality because of their hard-hearted unbelief and decided to kill those who were doing so much good. That’s a ridiculous but common reaction. Instead of yielding to truth, they would have compounded their sin by killing those who were sharing the good news of God’s forgiveness. It’s the same with our Christian friends being held by the Taliban. They were Christian Aid workers, sent to make life more bearable for those living in poverty.

In Acts 9 Paul went to Damascus to arrest Christians but was saved on the road outside the city. Acts 9:22-23 says he "increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took council to kill him." The righteousness of those who know God offends wicked men. In Matthew 10:21-22 Jesus says, "The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men, for my name’s sake, but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

In Matthew 23:34-38 the Lord Jesus, speaking to the leaders of Israel, says, "Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation [This was fulfilled in A.D. 70 in the destruction of Jerusalem]. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

The religious leaders tried to kill Jesus throughout His public ministry. (John 5:16, 7:32, 8:59, 10:31, and 11:57 underscore their desire to extinguish His ministry at all costs.) Finally they nailed Him to a cross. Jesus told His disciples that they could expect the same treatment because they were His representatives (John 15:20-21). Some men are still violently opposed to Christianity, and that’s as it should be. We ought to have influence. What we say and how we live should be so clear that the world has to notice, whether they like it or not. If our gospel message is convicting enough to anger men, it’s also convicting enough to get men saved.

Examine persecution. Are you being persecuted for your character as a Christian or your testimony as a Christian? Or are people antagonistic towards you for other reasons.

1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

3. Endure Persecution

In Acts 5:26 the disciples respond commendably to persecution–with non-resistance. Later in the book of Acts Paul was on trial before Festus, the Roman governor (ch. 25). The Jews had accused him of "many and grievous complaints. . .which they could not prove" (v. 7). In verse 11 Paul says "If I. . .am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die" (NASB). If obeying the Lord meant disobeying the government, Paul would do so, willingly accepting the consequences–even if it meant death! That’s the right response to persecution. Christians are to obey the government, unless it contradicts a command of God. Then we must obey the Lord and accept the penalty for that decision, even if it be death. Paul was bold in the face of death because he know that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). Death is only a promotion. He continues in verses 22-23, "I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." Christian service gives meaning to our lives on earth. Because of his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11), Paul was sent to Rome. During the journey, there was a shipwreck, but in answer to Paul’s prayer no one drowned, giving him the opportunity to declare God’s power (27:21-44). Eventually he arrived in Rome (28:15-16), where "he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading [the Jewish leaders] concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" (v. 23). Verses 30- 31 say, "Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house (a prisoner in his own house) . . . preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ." The fruit of his ministry is evident in the letter he wrote from Rome to the Philippians. He said, "All the saints greet you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household (4:22). People were constantly being saved because Paul graciously accepted the consequences of choosing to obey the Lord. He displayed the right attitude when facing persecution. That’s why when the end was near he was able to say, "I am now ready to be offered" (2 Tim. 4:6).

4. Entrust Persecution 1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

A. Entrust it As An Opening Acts 4:3 tells us that Peter and John were taken into custody by their arresters. They did not strike back at their arresters; they did not start a brawl. Verses 5-7 say, "… it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set [Peter, John, and the healed man] in their midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" Implied in those verses is the fact that Peter and John did not offer any resistance. They didn’t develop a martyr’s complex and say, "We will die for what we did." They simply trusted in God. Peter and John saw that God was presenting them with a great opening through their persecution. They had been obedient to proclaim Christ. Since their proclamation brought about their arrest, they assumed they were where God wanted them. If in the course of obeying the Lord you end up in difficult circumstances, you can assume that God ordained that to happen. He wants to do something through you in those circumstances. However, if you are disobedient to the Lord and end up in a bad situation, that’s a different issue (1 Pet. 2:20). If you are persecuted as a result of confronting the world and proclaiming Christ, praise God and wait to see what He will do. Be submissive; don’t fight back.

Did you notice what occurred here? Do you realize what God had just done? He gave Peter and John the wonderful opportunity to preach to the Sanhedrin. Satan overdid his persecution. Sometimes when Satan persecutes someone, that person will end up in a circumstance that opens up new avenues for the work of God. There is no other way that Peter and John would have been allowed to preach to the Sanhedrin. They submitted to persecution, and God was able to put them where He wanted them. That’s why submission is so important–you want to stay within God’s master plan. God allowed Peter and John to carry their testimony to the Sanhedrin itself. If you are obedient to God and get persecuted for righteousness’ sake, then accept the persecution, because God has designed to accomplish something through it. If we resist persecution, we can thwart God’s plan. God has a way of using Satan’s opposition for His glory.

B. Entrust it As An Opportunity To See God Work God raised up someone to take the heat out of the persecution. (vv. 34-40)

(1) The man (v. 34) (a) A member of the Pharisees There were Pharisees within the Sanhedrin, the seventy member council that led Israel, but the Sadducees controlled it. The Sadducees could maintain that control because they were wealthy and had allied themselves with Rome. They had two primary concerns: Greek customs and peaceful relations with the Romans. They were theological liberals, rejecting the concepts of resurrection and angelic beings.

The Pharisees were political traditionalists, purists regarding the law, and very nationalistic. They believed so strongly that Israel should exist apart from Rome’s authority they were willing to participate in rebellion. They strongly denounced the Sadducees for collaborating with Rome for political and economic advantage. Much like the dichotomy between evangelicals and liberals today, those two groups were poles apart.

The Sadducees were influential with the Sanhedrin and with Rome but exercised little influence on the populace. The Pharisees swayed the people. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, said that the Sadducees would often acquiesce to the demands of the Pharisees because of their popularity (Antiquities 18.1.4). That’s what happening here in Acts 5. The people were open to Christianity because their friends and family members were being healed. The Pharisees knew if they were to persecute the Christians, they would lose favor with the people so they were determined not to do that. The Sadducees knew the people respected the Pharisees, so they frequently capitulated to them, wanting the people’s favor. Rabbi Gamaliel, knowing all this, stood to speak. Since he was a Pharisee, he had the people on his side, so the Sadducees had to listen. He didn’t want the Christians to die. His reason was probably political even though it is heavily disguised in theological garb.

(b) A teacher of the law Verse 34 says he was "a teacher of the law." The Talmud, the rabbinical writings of Judaism, calls him "Rabban Gamaliel the Elder." Rabban was reserved for the most eminent teachers of Israel (cf., John 20:16). Tradition states he was the grandson of Hillel, one of Israel’s greatest teachers. Speaking of his death in [SC] A.D. 52 the Talmud says, "When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, regard for the Torah [the study of the Law] ceased, and purity and piety died" (Sotah). The apostle Paul once studied under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), one of the greatest teachers of Judaism who ever lived. Because of Gamaliel’s personal reputation and his being a Pharisee, his views would be heard.

(2) The message (vv. 35-39)

(a) His exhortation (v. 35) Gamaliel advised his colleagues to be cautious. The Pharisees believed strongly that God Himself would deal with problems and that He didn’t need man’s help. That was the theological supposition behind Gamaliel’s advice.

(b) His illustrations (vv. 36-37) Gamaliel gave his associates two illustrations of how God deals with those who oppose Him. Scholars aren’t certain who Theudas was. Josephus mentions a Theudas involved with rebellion, but his was different from what is described here and occurred many years later. Gamaliel’s point is Theudas rose to popularity and faded into obscurity without Israel’s leaders doing anything. After the death of Herod the Great in 4 B.C., thousands of robbers marauded Palestine. Some of those robbers formed groups, crowned their leaders king, and started a revolution. Such was the case of Judas of Galilee. He led a rebellion in A.D. 6 during the census and taxation under Quirinius. Judas argued that because God is king, paying taxes to Rome was blaspheming God. The Roman government was intolerant of such rebellion and successfully ended Judas’ revolt. Gamaliel says that "all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed" (v. 37). That wasn’t entirely accurate, however, because Judas’ rebellion spawned a group that later became known as the zealots. The zealots were an extremely nationalistic group of Israelites whose influence was still felt in Israel during Gamaliel’s lifetime. So Judas wasn’t as ineffective as Gamaliel said. (In fact, Josephus implied that the spirit of rebellion against taxation fostered by Judas is what led to the downfall of Jerusalem in [SC] A.D. 70 [Antiquities 18.1.1, 6; 20.5.2].)

(c) His point (vv. 38-39) "Now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps ye be found even to fight against God."

This is the conclusion he’s making from those illustrations: whatever succeeds is of God; whatever fails is not, a fallacious principle in a fallen world. God allows evil to exist. Gamaliel’s principle will come true only when Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on earth, thus reversing the curse.

Gamaliel’s principle can’t be used to evaluate what’s happening now. Many things God hates are successful. For example, the Sanhedrin was still an active religious force in Israel although it was instrumental in Christ’s death. Today there are tremendously successful movements that God has nothing to do with. Gamaliel’s idea was to wait and see. He witnessed the healings and miracles. He knew of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His empty grave. What was he waiting to see? What more did he need to see?

The only way to judge something accurately is by comparing it with Scripture. If Gamaliel were a true teacher of Israel, he should have recommended that the council study the Old Testament text to see if this new teaching was biblical. But he was a pseudo-scholar. Jesus said, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24:25)! A master of Scripture would have known that Jesus fulfilled every Messianic prophecy. Instead Gamaliel made a weak application of poor theology.

"If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it" (v. 39) is his only valid conclusion. Many men have tried to overthrow that which is of God but instead have been crushed by it. In Matthew 12:3O Jesus says, "He that is not with me is against me." Men fight God. They oppose His gospel, His Word, His providence, and His Spirit’s conviction.

b) The Sanhedrin’s consent (v. 40) After listening to Gamaliel, the council agreed with him and decided to follow his advice. But there was so much animosity in their hearts, they beat each of the apostles with 39 stripes (cf., Deut. 25:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:24).

5. Employ Persecution

A. In Obeying God (v. 29) "Then Peter and the other apostles answered, and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." The apostles never quit. Even though the high priest had just fired stinging accusations at them, they refused to apologize for the truth. They were tenacious. By saying "we ought to obey God rather than men" Peter was implying the leaders were opposing God! That is boldness.

B. In Proclaiming The Gospel (vv. 41-42) "They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." But the disciples didn’t stop preaching Jesus Christ. And the results were amazing. Acts 6:1 says that "in those days . . . the number of the disciples was multiplied." We tire and quit. We become exhausted just putting on our armor. As veterans of a few skirmishes, we seek an honorable discharge–but the early church didn’t. They kept at their task and turned their world upside down. The principles of effective evangelism are all here in Acts 5: purity, power, persecution, persistence, and productivity. Today, the church is not victorious over persecution because Christians are not leaning on the Spirit of God. Many people hide when they get persecuted. We don’t yield to the Spirit and submit to God’s plan. Some of us, when we talk about the gospel, are afraid to discuss anything that might displease people. We give innocuous religious platitudes so we don’t offend anyone. Christians are afraid to stand boldly for what is right and yield to the Spirit to see what God does. We fail to experience victory because we don’t speak the truth. If we try to make our message inoffensive, it will become worthless because then no one will know he has a problem with sin. Do you avoid talking about certain biblical truths to unbelievers so that you won’t offend them? What are you doing to the gospel message when you do that? What effect will the gospel message have on others if you compromise? When you share what the Bible teaches with an unbeliever, make sure that you are honest in everything you say. Don’t modify the truth to please other people! Do you trust that God is in control of your circumstances when you are persecuted?

Acts 5:17-32 A PATTERN FOR EVANGELIZING

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." 21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!" 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Acts 5:40, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ

I. The Mandate Propelling

Go

Stand

Speak

II. The Message Proclaimed

Jesus Christ.

Love

Isolation

Forgiveness

Eternal Life

III. The Manner Practiced

Saturation Evangelism 28

Situation Evangelism 42

Acts 5:17-32 A PATTERN FOR EVANGELIZING

As an older teenager I started attending beach Missions about the age of 17. They were great opportunities for outreach. Visiting from tent to tent and caravan to caravan was scarey. One afternoon we were all supposed to visit from Caravan to caravan to notify the folks there at Gerroa of a concert and film night that the team was holding in the main grounds of the Park. We were placed in pairs and would knock on the tent doors making the announcement in as friendly a way as possible. Things were going well. Until as we entered one annexe to a caravan I noticed that a the back of the caravan were 8 or 10 big black motorbikes. My partner hadn’t seen them, and as he got near the door of the tent, he asked, “Is it my turn or yours to speak?” Quickly I said, “I think it’s yours!” Well they were as rough as I’d expected, and it got worse. They invited us into the caravan to talk about what we believed. I felt a choking sensation around my neck. To my horror my partner said to me, “Great, let’s sit down and talk!”

I would have to admit, I was less keen to speak then than at any other time in my life. I guess that same chill of fear had penetrated Peter and John’s hearts that day as they faced off to with the Sadducees.

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

I wonder whether peter and John, in that prison were starting to consider their future job prospects in some other field. Maybe they were considering the opportunities in the fishing industry. Well, maybe not. Hadn’t the Lord brought them back out of that just a few weeks before, after his resurrection, when Peter found a boat and went back out again? Peter and John would have known they were to have a heart for winning the lost. They were to have a heart for winning people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have a heart for evangelism?

God Himself demonstrated his evangelistic heart:: He had only one Son, and He made Him a soul-winner. Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” A truth that needs to be emphasized to every true born-again believer in Christ is this: All Christians have been charged with the responsibility and the task of personal evangelism. For the believer, evangelism is not an option; it is an obligation. It is not a choice to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed. It is not a gift; it is a responsibility. In fact, one of the marks that a person is truly a disciple of Christ is an interest in, and a practice of, personal evangelism. When the Lord Jesus called the first disciples, the first promise He made was, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:16). Immediately, we learn something every Christian must realize (in many cases rather painfully): if you are not fishing, you are not following! The real essence of discipleship is in the making of other disciples. R. A. Torrey, a great Bible teacher of yesteryear, poignantly stated: “I would like to ask what right a man has to call himself a follower of Jesus Christ if he is not a soul-winner? There is absolutely no such thing as following Christ unless you make the purpose of Christ’s life the purpose of your life.” The fact of the matter is that every saved person this side of heaven should be concerned about every unsaved person this side of hell. Our Lord assumed, as well as commanded, that His disciples would be about the task of personal evangelism. He said, “You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:18). His command to the entire church was to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .” (Matt. 28:19).

There is a similarity between this narrative and that of Acts 4. But this time, rather than just Peter and John being arrested, the whole group of the apostles were arrested for preaching the gospel. Once again they make it clear that the necessity of their lives is to obey God, not men; therefore they would go on preaching the gospel. They would not be intimidated. They would not bow to threats. They would not cower in fear of what man could do to them. They gave themselves to fearless proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we approach our text, our greatest need is for each one who knows Christ savingly to be consumed with the truth that all of us are responsible for the work of evangelism and to be committed to engage in that work. I believe there is some good help for each one of us as we see the pattern for evangelism practiced in Acts.

I. The Mandate Propelling 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

Go

These brethren had already gone through the trauma of Peter and John’s arrest after the healing of the lame beggar in the temple. Now they face the same threat, this time by a more angered group of religious leaders. They were placed in a "public jail" which was the holding place for thieves and murderers. The high priest ‘meant business’ this time. He was tired of all the commotion with these gospel preachers! So he has them jailed in order to bring them before the Sanhedrin (Council of 70 elders of Israel) that they might silence them. Then the angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, takes the prisoners out of the jail, and gives them the command to go preach the gospel: "Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." Now, don’t you think this would be an appropriate time for a barrage of excuses? ‘Preach? Why we keep getting thrown in jail for preaching! We can’t do that!’ ‘You want us to do what?’ ‘We might be imprisoned for a long term and thus curtail any hopes of carrying out a lengthy and useful ministry.’ But as you see, we do not find any excuses, only a ready willingness to obey the commands of their Lord!

Brethren, let’s face it: Christ has commanded us to spread the good news of the gospel. We really have no excuse but our own disobedience for failing to proclaim the gospel!

I must confess that many of us are in the same condition as the four lepers of Samaria whom we read about in 2 Kings 7. They were eating and drinking, going from one tent to another, gathering food, silver, and gold, accumulating everything for themselves. Then they came to their senses and said, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.” May God help us to see that what we are doing is not right. We have been given the living bread and living water, and we must share it with others.

They first had to leave the jail and go to the people. That is simple enough, yet it is an important truth for us. They were to go to the unbelieving so that they might testify of the grace of God. The Lord has conveniently sent most of us to mission points so that we might proclaim the gospel. These mission points are called jobs, school, civic organizations, sports teams, musical groups, etc. The question all of us must face is what kind of job am I doing with the opportunity God has given me? You cannot stay at the entry to the jail and get a whole lot of evangelizing done. You must go where there are people. The disciples made their way to the temple about daybreak, which was the time of prayer in which hundreds would be making their way to an encounter with the gospel. In that setting they continued their gospel ministry! If we could ever get in mind that the circles in which we find ourselves encountering people are not by chance, but by divine design, it would change our whole attitude about life. Some of you think that your job is horrible because you have all sorts of wicked people around you. My friend, God has placed you on a mission field–start evangelizing! You young people can go to school and talk about all the freaks, geeks, weirdoes, and party-goers. God has placed you on a mission field–start evangelizing! Go! we are told.

What a difference it would make if every Christian would see witnessing as an ultimate expression of one’s love for Christ. The paramount reason that every Christian should gladly and persistently share the plan of salvation is because of his love for the Man of salvation. Jesus said to Peter three times, in essence, “If you love Me, feed My sheep” (John 21:15–17). He did not ask Peter whether he loved sheep; neither did He ask him whether he loved feeding sheep. The issue was “Do you love Me?” The apostle Paul said we should witness “for the love of Christ compels us” (2 Cor. 5:14). Hudson Taylor, one of the world’s greatest missionaries, was once asked the question, “Mr. Taylor, don’t you think the one requirement for missionaries is that they love souls?” Hudson Taylor thought for a moment and then answered, “No, the one requirement for missionaries is that they love Jesus. If they love Jesus, they will love souls.” It is that love for Christ alone that will be the primary motivation for any Christian to fulfill the responsibility of personal evangelism.

Stand

The angel not only told the disciples to "go" but also to "stand." The word conveys the idea of someone who is ‘taking a stand’ at a particular spot and fulfilling his purpose. It might be a commando unit that takes a hill and then digs in so that they will not be moved by the enemy. It is the idea that you are staking off your territory and you will not back down because of anyone.

In Ephesians 6 addressing the spiritual conflict we face, we are exhorted three times to "stand firm." I Corinthians 16:13 tells us to "stand firm in the faith." Philippians 4:1 exhorts us to "stand firm in the Lord." I Peter 5:12 tells us to "stand firm" in the true grace of God. Real Christianity holds its ground against the world, the flesh, and the devil. If we are to get anywhere in the work of witnessing, we must stand firm in our faith and not cave in to fears and intimidation.

So often we give up on witnessing because we are afraid. Fear would be the opposite of standing. To stand is to take courage, to be bold, to keep pressing on for Christ in the face of every intimidation and fear. We must determine in our hearts that by the strength which the Lord supplies, we will stand firm in the Lord to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

No Christian should feel as if he or she simply cannot do personal evangelism because of a lack of ability. Any command of God carries with it the power to fulfill that command. Indeed, every Christian is given the Holy Spirit precisely to empower him to be a witness for Christ. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). Every Christian can witness, every Christian should witness, every Christian must witness in order to be obedient to Christ.

Speak

We are to go, stand, and speak the whole message of the Life!

II. The Message Proclaimed

all the words of this life." Acts 5:20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." NASB the full message of this new life." NIV

A group of high school students were given an assignment one day.  They were asked to answer this question, what is the meaning of life? What is life all about? The answers were interesting. Some of them were very, very tragic. One young person wrote this. "Life is a joke which isn’t even funny."  Another one wrote: "Life is a disease for which the only cure is death."  Another one wrote: "Life is a jail sentence for the crime of being born."

But it is the message of this Life!

"Speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." He is obviously speaking about the gospel when he mentions the message of this Life. When Jesus asked the disciples whether they were going to withdraw and quit following Him as the multitudes had done, Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life" (John 6:68). I \am reminded of what John wrote in simplicity in his first epistle, "He that has the Son has the Life, but he that does not have the Son of God does not have the Life" (I John 5:12). The gospel of Jesus Christ tells us about "the Life" which only comes from God. It is only "the Life" that can take us through this life and carry us on into eternity with God forever. It is only "the Life" that can create in us lives of holiness, righteousness, purity, and a pursuit of God as our chief delight.

When you teach the "whole message" of the gospel, you are not offering people a partial gospel or a truncated gospel. You are addressing the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, the judgment due to sinful man, the atoning and redemptive work of Christ, and the necessity of repentance and faith to receive "the Life." Jonathan Edwards, in a 1733 sermon, defined what he considered the content of the saving message of God. He said that it should have three components: first, "That we should see our misery, and be sensible of our need of mercy"; second, "they must be sensible that they are not worthy that God should have mercy on them"; and third, "they come to God for mercy in and through Jesus Christ alone" [The Coming Evangelical Crisis, John Armstrong, editor, 170, fn. 24]. We get an insight into the message they proclaimed in the temple by the message they give to the Counsel after they are taken captive again. It is a message about Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ.

28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Love

30 The God of our fathers

John 3:16 What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Isolation

Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

Yes we are all sinners. Rom 3:23.

Forgiveness

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

The first message of Jesus recorded in Mark’s Gospel is one of repentance. "Repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (1:15). The summation of the duty which Paul pressed upon the people of Ephesus in his gospel preaching was "repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). The disciples did not hesitate to call for repentance and the need for forgiveness of sins before this illustrious group of religious leaders. The gospel of Christ pulls no punches. All are guilty before God. All must repent. All must receive forgiveness of sins by the gracious gift of God. Apart from this a person has no eternal hope.

Eternal Life

John 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 5: 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

John 6:54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10: 28 And I give them eternal life,

III. The Manner Practiced

Saturation Evangelism 28

I think it is significant that two words are used for this work of evangelizing. Teaching would direct us to giving thorough explanations concerning the gospel. Though all of us are not teachers, all of us who will give ourselves to studying the Word of God can, in one-on-one situations, explain the gospel to someone else. Teaching lays the groundwork. It helps to give the knowledge and understanding that a person needs to think through on the gospel and its demands. The gospel must first penetrate a person’s mind before he can properly respond with his will. Teaching does this work of laying truth to the mind, while the Holy Spirit brings the mind to life.

The next word is translated as "preaching." But it is better translated, "evangelizing" or "announcing the good news." This is the work of not only explaining the gospel but calling for sinners to repent and believe the gospel. It is our offering the free pardon wrought through the death of Christ to sinners.

So, all of us are to be engaged as teachers of the gospel who explain what the gospel is; and evangelizers of the gospel who announce the good news and call for sinners to repent and believe.

Situation Evangelism 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ

The two phrases of verse 42, "every day" and "they kept right on," emphasize to us that the proclamation of the gospel did not skip a beat in spite of their arrest and flogging. Even though the religious and political authorities did not want them witnessing and even though they were told to stop, they chose to obey God rather than men. Evangelism was a daily affair for them.

I believe that is a direction that all of us need to find ourselves moving! We must begin to view all of life differently, to envision that every situation in which we find ourselves may very well be a wonderful opportunity of speaking the words of life to some poor lost soul. R.F. Gates message at the recent Founders Conference contained a stirring challenge to "Think Evangelism." In answer the question, "Where am I to evangelize?" R.F. stated, "It is the place where His providence places you." Brethren, wherever we are, whatever situation we are in, God may want to use us as His instrument of proclaiming good news to lost men! THINK EVANGELISM! Let’s get that work on our minds and hearts. Keep a tract around or a gospel booklet to pass out. Look for an open door to speak a word concerning Christ. Let’s pray that this will become our ‘daily and unceasing’ practice.

The disciples found themselves proclaiming the gospel in both religious settings of the temple and in house to house situations. I think the point to see is that the settings of where we are to witness "is the place where His providence places you." It can vary with the demands upon your life. A job transfer or change should be viewed as a move to a new mission field. Attending a new school should be seen as new opportunities of presenting Christ to your classmates. I want to challenge you to think of where you will be this week as possible witnessing opportunities. Purpose in your heart to take advantage of chances to share the gospel. Some of your gospel discussions may be brief, lasting only a couple of minutes. Others may develop into lengthier discussions on the gospel. Use whatever the Holy Spirit places before you.

In his commentary on the book of Acts, R. Kent Hughes tells the story of Aida Skripnikova, a Russian girl who was born in 1941 in Leningrad. “In the fall of 1961 Aida came to know Christ as a nineteen-year-old, and with her new faith came the impulse to share it with others. Aida purchased some postcards with a beautiful picture by Claude Lorain representing a harbor at sunrise, (chosen perhaps as a symbol of the spiritual sunrise she had discovered) and then wrote a poem on the reverse side. The poem expressed her perception of life and the need to find God. The poem was entitled: ‘Happy New Year! 1962.’”

Our years fly past One after another, unnoticed. Grief and sadness disappear,

They are carried away by life. This world, the earth, is so transient

Everything in it comes to an end. Life is important.

Don’t be happy-go-lucky! What answer will you give your creator?

What awaits you, my friend, beyond the grave? Answer this question while light remains.

Perhaps tomorrow, before God, You will appear to give an answer for everything.

Think deeply about this, For you are not on this earth forever.

Perhaps tomorrow, you will break Forever your links with this world!

SEEK GOD WHILE HE IS TO BE FOUND.

“Aida then took her postcards and stood on the Nevski Prospect (which is the Leningrad equivalent of Fifth Avenue in New York City) and handed out her cards to passersby. She was, of course, arrested. In April 1962 she was tried by a Communist court. She was exiled from Leningrad and lost her job as a lab assistant. She was arrested again in 1965 and was sent to a labor camp for a year. In 1968 she was arrested again and was sent to a labor camp for three more years” (R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, [Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996], 86-87).

What do you think inspired Aida Skripnikova? Perhaps she had read the fifth chapter of the book of Acts and been struck by what the angel told the apostles after he delivered them from prison, “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.” Perhaps she took note of how the apostles were arrested, tried, and flogged, but on their release they went right back to the temple courts and “never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

ACTS 6:1-7 Spiritual Leadership

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 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; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

1. The Problem That Perturbed The People

2. The Priority That Pressed Upon The Pastor

3. The People Precipitated By The Problems

They were a People of Good Reputation (v.3)

They were a People Full Of The Spirit-(v.3)

They were a People Full of wisdom (v.3)

They were a People Full of faith(v.5)

ACTS 6:1-7 Spiritual Leadership

We are facing a crisis of spiritual leadership in the Baptist churches of NSW today. Now I do not mean that we are having a crisis of organizational leadership or motivational leadership. That kind of leadership is at an all-time high. But organizational and motivational leadership can only carry you as far as the flesh can go. The real need of the hour is for godly men who will lead God’s people upstream against the turbulent waters of the convenient, culturally acceptable versions of Christianity. Such spiritual men appear to be hard to come by these days.

You may think I am making too much of this, but I would ask whether you have really been observing the trends in the evangelical church and the many publications that are popular today. There are so many magazine articles and papers and courses that have been written for our Baptist churches of recent days. But I am afraid that for all our training and courses, there are very few folks in Baptist churches today who are really spiritual leaders. There are a lot of egos, a lot of self-serving, a lot of misdirection, a lot of manipulation, but to our regret, very little spiritual leadership.

In each generation there have been good godly men who have been our spiritual leaders. You remember some of their names: Many were pastors of this church, or of near by churches in previous generations. But today our churches are in serious trouble through the lack of true spiritual leadership. We will always have to deal with the issue of raising up new spiritual leaders to take the place of those who have received their promotion to glory. There will ever be the need for spiritual leaders. The nature and the mission of the church demand such leaders. Spiritual leaders are best identified by the character of their lives, their passion for the Lord, their understanding of the ways and works of God, their unflinching obedience to the Word of God, their humility as servants, and their desire to stay focused upon God’s will as they lead others.

There is no more serious task facing a congregation than the selection of spiritual leaders to guide the church and its ministries. We must understand and follow the New Testament’s teaching on leadership so we may as a congregation walk in the will of God.

Acts 6 challenges us to be spiritual leaders. We must accept nothing less than the standards and principles our Lord has given us in His Word.

I want you to notice the situation that eventuated here in Acts 6, and the decision the church made, but primarily I want you to see the character of the spiritual leaders God wants leading His church.

1. The Problem That Perturbed The People

Acts 6 tells us that there was a complaint that arose among the Hellenistic Jews against the Aramaic Jews. The Hellenistic Jews were those who had likely moved into Jerusalem from other regions where the dominant culture and language were Greek (thus the term ‘Hellenist’ which come from the Gr. word for "Greek"). They were the minority among the Jewish believers. Whether it was intentional or not, they were not having their physical needs met in the same fashion as the native Jewish Christians. They were being overlooked. We must understand that the Jewish practice was to take care of their own people. There was no such thing as social security or welfare programs. The local community took on the needs of those who were widowed or orphaned. The normal practice was to meet the physical needs of the Jewish widows who did not have the ability nor family to care for them. Once some of these Jewish widows became Christians, they were immediately disassociated from the Jewish religious community. The synagogue would not provide any support for these women. For these ladies to follow Christ was particularly difficult, because they would lose all their pensions and help and assistance from the synagogue. They would be left penniless. So, the Christian community immediately filled in and began supplying the needs of these widows. In that society there was very little way that these ladies could provide for their needs, so it became the duty of the brethren to minister to them. Paul mentions this in I Timothy 5 when he spoke of when a widow was qualified to be put "on the list" (5:9) as part of the church’s support. These were called "widows indeed," because they were penniless and destitute.

1 Tim 5:3-10 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

The young Christian churches were primarily made up of poor people. Very few had wealth. Acts 2 and 4 tell us that the local church worked together to meet the needs of others in the congregation so that no one would suffer need. With the rapid growth of the church there were some widows who were "falling through the cracks" as we might say. They were being "overlooked" (lit., neglected) in the daily serving of food. However the problem raised a conflict in the people present in the church. Listen to the apostles reply:

"It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables….But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."

2. The Priority That Pressed Upon The Pastors

The apostles saw that the physical needs were of great importance and worthy of the church’s attention. But they also saw that they were never to neglect the spiritual needs of the congregation. Their priority was to continue teaching the Word of God to the people so that they might grow strong in the Lord and in the faith. It was not an either-or situation with physical and spiritual needs; it was a both-and situation. Both the physical and spiritual needs had to be met, but they saw the need to prioritise what they were to do in relieving these needs. I don’t think any of us would deny that we still have spiritual needs in our congregations! As long as there is sin in our lives, as long as our knowledge is incomplete, as long as there is the least dimming of the glory of Christ in our lives, there are spiritual needs which must be met. As a church we exist primarily for the meeting of these spiritual needs. The physical needs are important and we want to be involved in them. But meeting physical needs lasts only during this life. The meeting of spiritual needs goes on into eternity.

When you begin think about our Australian church scene, you realize that we have in many ways fallen prey to meeting only the physical needs of people and neglecting the weightier spiritual needs. There are a lot of "feeding programs" taking place, run by the Salvation Army and the Newcastle City mission, and the Hunter Mission, all of whom are supported by our members and our church. And there are plenty of other areas that seem to have our attention. Massive recreation programs, social activities, hobby and craft programs, psychology and sociology programs, and a variety of entertainment-oriented activities vie for the "physical" attention of the church. These things are not necessarily wrong. But when the Word of God is neglected in order to meet an array of the physical needs, then the physical has taken on the status of idolatry to the neglect of the eternal, spiritual needs. The apostles were very adamant about the spiritual needs of the congregation. They said it was not "desirable" for them to neglect the word of God in order to take care of the physical needs. "Desirable" implies that which is pleasing or right. These programmes were good, but they knew that without the ministry of the Word of God, the people might be physically fit but spiritually crushed. They knew that this was not "right" before God or before the congregation.

The noted Puritan pastor, Richard Baxter, spoke clearly of the spiritual character of the ministry: Since the work of the ministry concerns the pleasing of God and the salvation of our people, its character is spiritual. It is not about temporal and transitory things. It is a vile abuse to secularise the Church with immersion into the business of the world. Our true business consists of the following two things. First, it is our business to reveal to men what is that happiness or chief good, which must be the ultimate good. Second, it is our business to acquaint men with the right means to obtain this end, and to help them use these means. In the pursuit of this end, we must not hinder them. The first and greatest work of ministers of Christ is acquainting men with the God who made them; He is the source of their blessing. We should open up the treasures of His goodness for them and tell them of the glory that is in His presence, a glory which all His chosen people shall enjoy….In a word, we must teach our people as much as we can of the word and works of God. (The Reformed Pastor, 69-71).

3. The People Precipitated By The Problems

Problems Precipitate Prepared People. In the field of chemistry there is a reaction that is called precipitation. We normally think of precipitation as being something the weather man says just before we have a lousey wet weekend. The Encyclopedia Britannica says “Precipitation often is used to remove metal ions from aqueous solutions: silver ions present in a solution of a soluble salt, such as silver nitrate, are precipitated by addition of chloride ions, provided, for example, by a solution of sodium chloride; the chloride ions and the silver ions combine to form silver chloride, a compound that is not soluble in water. Similarly, barium ions are precipitated by sulfate ions, and calcium by oxalate; schemes have been developed for analysis of mixtures of metal ions by successive application of reagents that precipitate specific ions or groups of related ions.”

What that means is that if you come across some silver nitrate, you can become a rich man, if you can understand how to cook it according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

You mix the two chemicals and out pops silver. The Lord allows problems in a church sometimes, so that Promising People may come to the fore.

Here were some men precipitated from the congregation to meet this problem.

We could talk of how the congregation was lead to elect these men. (That substantiates what we call congregational church government by the way.) We could also admit that the apostles as elders laid down the qualifications for these men, (and the Presbyterians jump up here and talk about the necessity of church government by elders), and how the elders laid their hands on them :whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them” and the Anglicans jump up here and talk about the necessity of apostolic succession through the bishops. Congregational Church government doesn’t preclude problems in churches. Having an eldership does not automatically ensure godliness. Having laying on of hands does not automatically ensure spiritual leadership.

For the point of the passage is this: 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom,

5 And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas,

As we trace the history of the early church, the last part of chapter 6 and chapter 7 chronicles Stephen’s ministry. Chapter 8 chronicles another of these men, Phillip and his ministry. This Problem Precipitated some Promising People.

Now these fellows that surfaced during this difficulty were ordinary people. They were not apostles. They were not pastors. In fact, although this passage does not use the term, these 7 men were probably the first diaconate in the Christian church. The word deacon comes from the Greek word diakono Acts 6:2 diakonein trape/zai

People of Good reputation (v.3) - these qualities must be evident to others – this is their reputation. Acts 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. NIV They had a good reputation. They were known for these qualities:

A. They were a People Full Of The Spirit-(v.3) Dr. William Stidger once wrote a book called “Preaching out of the Overflow” He was saying that every preacher when he gets up ought to have enough material to go an extra hour beyond what he actually presents. (wouldn’t that make congregations happy) so that he preaches out of the overflow of information. We call that information overload today. However, whatever we think of that, you and I ought to live out of the overflow. Our Christian living should not be merely “getting by”. We shouldn’t have the idea that we’ll scrape into heaven by the skin of our teeth. God’s purpose for every believer is to have an overflowing life. Paul said this in Rom 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. NASU

These men were filled full to overflowing by the Spirit of God. They were known to be full of the Spirit. What are you known by? Some people are know to be filled with bitterness.

Peter spoke to a man named Simon and said very forthrightly of him Acts 8:23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." A person who exhales bitterness against someones or somethings with almost every breath. They are sour on people, sour on situations sour on life in general.

Heb 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; NASU

You and I need to be full of the Spirit. Now we’re not talking about some weird ecstatic experience. We are talking about being controlled by the Spirit of God.

These people were fully yielded to the Holy Spirit in every area of life. They are under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This means that the Spirit of God guides their volitional life. They don’t gallop off and make decisions without any reference to the Lord or in discovering God’s will in a matter. You never find a Spirit filled person saying “My life is my own and I will do what I wish.”

1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. NASU

This means that our habits and desires are under the control of the Spirit of God. We have self control regarding our lusts and appetites.

We are not talking about some dramatic crisis experience here, we are talking about the godly characteristics that the Spirit of God works into our lives,as we look to the Lord to live out His life through ours. These men were perceived by the church to be full of the Spirit. The members of the early church found them to be godly men. Are you a godly man? Can others see that you are full of the Spirit by your actions and reactions, by your habits and your decisions?

B. They were a People Full of wisdom (v.3)

There must be biblical knowledge. Dr. Luke demonstrates to us in Acts 7 the depths of Stephen’s understanding of the Old Testament scriptures and history and purpose of God. The only way Stephen could have known the things he knew in Acts 7 was by a thoroughgoing study of God’s Word daily over many years. Are you reading God’s Word daily? Are you really growing in the depth of your understanding of God’s Word?

A good thoroughgoing knowledge of God’s Word can save us from many perils.

Prov 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Prov 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall. 9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known. 10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.

Prov 10:18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Prov 14:15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.

Prov 17:24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

I remember one thing my dad taught me. There are no free lunches. If some one tries to sell you a scheme that is too good to be true, count on it, it probably is too good to be true. They must have the practical wisdom to put that knowledge to work in everyday situations. Are you wise? Do you study God’s word. Do you seek to understand what’s going on around you and how it can affect you?

C. They were a People Full of faith(v.5)

Now that is an interesting statement. How do you know if someone is full of faith? How could you tell that these seven men were full of faith?

Many times what purports to be faith in our present Christian world is not faith at all. It is naivety. It is presumption. You hear people say “I have faith that so and so will be healed.” That is usually just plain presumptuous and is offensive to God. How do they know for certain what God’s will is for a person in sickness or in life or even what God’s will is for a person or for themselves even for tomorrow? Many live with a religious twist to James 4 and presume that that is faith. James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Faith is reflexive. It is responsive. If a person is a person of faith, then they respond to God’s word. They place themselves in dependence upon God’s word, and they respond to God’s word in trust. Faith is just trusting that what God says is so. It is responding to the revelation of God.

Hebrews 10 A Receiving faith. Heb 10: 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Hebrews 11 An achieving faith.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

We are facing a crisis of spiritual leadership.

We need men and women of this character.