Acts Of The Apostles (14 Of 39)

Well, the problem is that we are trying to fix the wrong thing.

Illus: If you had trouble with the carburetor on your car, and you took it to be fixed, and the mechanic worked on the transmission, you would find, when you drove the car from the garage, that you still had the same trouble as before. Why. Because the mechanic never dealt with the problem.

The same would be true if you had a tooth hurting you, and the dentist extracted one that was not hurting. You would be no better off after the extraction than you were before you went to the dentist.

This is why most criminals are no better off when they leave prison than when they went to prison. The problem of the sinful heart, which is the root of the problem, was never dealt with.

The early church had a major problem. Saul was determined to stamp Christianity out. Scripture says, " As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." (Acts 8:3)

But, through the power of God, the first victory of the church was won, and Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, was the grand prize.

I. THE DEFECTION

Verse 31, "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

Illus: Often it has happened in past years, when athletes come to America (and other free countries), from Communist lands, they have defected. When they did this, the land they defected to would profit, because then, the talents of that athlete would be used there, for them.

When Paul defected to the Christian side, it resulted in many benefits for the work of the Lord in His church.

What did the church receive?

A. THE CHURCH RECEIVED REST

Verse 31, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,…"

There have been, and always will be, "storms" that assail the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must never forget that!

Illus: A new convert may find himself in the midst of a church 'storm.' He may say to himself, 'I know of another church that does not seem to be going through the raging storm that our church is facing. I believe I will just go to that church.” If the church he decides to go to is a sound, biblical church, he will find there will also be 'storms' there for him to face.

In other words, to leave a church because it is facing a spiritual 'storm', would be like moving from your house every time a rain storm passes over. It is going to rain in whatever place you move to.

However, the "storms" pass over. After Saul, the church's main persecutor at that time, was converted, there was rest in the churches for a season.

B. THE CHURCH RECEIVED EDIFICATION

"Then ... the churches ... were edified... "

This is what should happen when there are times of rest. One note of warning however, if we are not on guard, times of rest can be dangerous.

Illus: Have you ever stopped working so you could eat dinner, and after thirty or forty minutes of resting, you find it is hard to get back to work? When this happens, you can find that you only produce at about half the pace you had been at before you stopped to eat and rest.

Spiritually, this also can happen. Or worse, a time of rest can cause a church to become indolent, unfruitful, unfaithful, and quarrelsome.

But notice that the early church was aware of that danger, and they used their rest period as a time to be edified. They improved and fortified the weak spots in their Christian lives. Still today, many Christians need such a rest time, so they can get alone with the Lord, and be strengthened in the Lord again.

C. THE CHURCH RECEIVED FEAR

" Then had the churches rest … walking in the FEAR of the Lord,…”

Notice the words, "... walking in the fear of the Lord... "

Illus: Have you ever been driving down the highway, and seen a patrolman parked up ahead? First reaction? Hit the brake. You may not have even been speeding. Why then do you slow down? If you were not speeding, you have nothing to fear. You react because of the presence of authority. You are not afraid he is going to do you any bodily harm, but you want to be certain you are not caught breaking a law. Why? Because if you were breaking the law, then there would be a price to pay.