Because Of Christ

Title: Because of Christ!

Text: Acts 4:18-22

Introduction: Have your ever stood for something?

--In high school they took our break, we boycotted lunch

--No matter what you think of Promise Keepers, you have to admire their stand.

--America was even founded by men with a cause!!

1. People with a cause in the Bible.

a. Acts 4:18-22 Peter and John had a cause

b. Revelation 2:13 “Antipas my faithful martyr....” Name mentioned only once in the Bible. He died for the cause.

c. Jesus states His cause in John 18:37 "’You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’”

i. Jesus is saying that He came to bring what was right to the world! The real things in life.

2. Our cause is the work of God through our Lord Jesus Christ!! We call it the “cause of Christ.” That is something to get excited about!!

a. Because of Christ, we are the Light of the World!!

i. Matthew 5:14-16 ""You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

(1) People are lost in darkness. We have the answer!

(2) The answer is the Gospel of Christ!

(3) We are the lighthouse in the storm of life!

b. Because of Christ, we are to be about doing good!!

i. Galatians 6:9-10 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. {10} Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

(1) We are to be pro active in doing good to each other and the world!

c. Because of Christ, we are to be spreading the gospel to our world!!

i. Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""

(1) We must get back to the idea of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY in telling others the old old story of Jesus and His blood!!

3. Tonight I have some questions for us concerning the cause of Christ!

a. What are we waiting on??

i. Remember the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? 1 Kings 18:21 "Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing."

(1) Notice the question: “How long will you NOT DECIDE....”

(a) They were stagnant and unbelieving.

(b) They would not make a choice.

(2) Notice their reaction to the question: “...the people said nothing....”

(a) It’s the nightmare of all preachers!!

(b) The people had no reaction!!

ii. Are we so different from them?

(1) We have to make a choice. It’s God or _________.

(2) If we do not choose God, we made our choice.

(a) Are you past feeling to the point that you won’t serve Him anymore?

b. Where is our zeal?? Not for anything but the Christ!! (Zeal is excitement for God)

i. Some have lost their zeal, I fear, because they are just too tired from fighting to serve God. (Tell about the conversation with Bill Enloe.) Were we fighting for Jesus in the “old days” or for the church?)

(1) For so long you have felt a need to defend the “Church of Christ” that you have missed the Christ of the church.

(a) Religion is to you an argument to try and when a denominational friend.

(b) It is a point for you in life to “nail him/her to the wall doctrinally.

(c) I find no New Testament writer saying that we should do what the “church” teaches. But you will find what Christ teaches!!

(2) Times have changed to the point that we are no longer having to talk about which church to the younger generation, but we must talk about whether or not their is a God.

(a) Denominationalism is wrong.

(b) Division is wrong, but there are some weightier matters like FAITH, THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, THE BREAKDOWN OF VALUES, THE FAMILY PROBLEMS OUR WORLD FACES, ETC., ETC.