A Powerful Church
Scripture Reading: Acts 4:5-35
Scripture Text: Ephes. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephes. 3:20 [Living] Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of--infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Introduction:
In spite of the persecution and opposition it endured, the early church was a powerful church. They experienced and operated in the power of the Holy Spirit daily. The Lord desires no less for His church today. He wants us to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit and accomplish the great and wonderful work He has ordained for us. Let us take a look at the early church and see what made it such a powerful entity.
The early church was a powerful church because............
I. They Were A Praying Church.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
A. They were assembled in the same place for the purpose of prayer and worship.
Hebrews 10:25 [Living] Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
1. If we want the power of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives and our church, we must be willing to gather together and pray together for a fresh infilling of His Spirit and power.
Matthew Henry: Christ’s followers do best in company, provided it is their own company.
B. They were assembled together; meaning they were of one mind and one purpose in their praying.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Illustration: Dr. Ralph Byron is an outstanding Christian surgeon. Early in his medical profession he sought for a way to make life count. Professionally and personally, he wanted to be a man of God. One day in his search for godliness, he came across Ezekiel 22:30
And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Dr. Byron pondered this kind of question: "Would God find me standing in the gap?" Here he was a young surgeon with the press of responsibility all around him, and he answered the question honestly, "No, not right now." He concluded that in order for him to be a man of God, he must continually place a priority on prayer. At first, it was very difficult, because his duties were numerous. He decided that in order for him to have time with God, he would personally have to get up very early. He set aside the time of 5:30 a.m., which he called "an unearthly hour." But he did it. It was the best time, in light of his busy schedule. The remarkable thing he discovered was that within just two weeks, he began to have a quality of
life he had never known before. He saw two men trust Christ. He discovered that a major conflict in their church had been resolved -- dissolved is a better word -- as he committed it faithfully to God in prayer. And so he concluded, "It was apparent to me that I must give prayer top priority, even if it means getting less than six hours of sleep every night."
II. They Were Full of The Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
A. The power of the Holy Spirit comes with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
B. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to do the work of the Lord.
Mark 16:15-20 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
C. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to lead holy and exemplary lives before an ungodly world.
Illustration: A man who drank heavily was converted to Christ and lived victoriously for several weeks. One day as he passed the open door of a tavern, the pungent odor drifting out aroused his old appetite for liquor. Just then he saw this sign in the window of a nearby cafe: "All the buttermilk you can drink -- 25 cents!" Dashing inside, he ordered one glass, then
another, and still another. After finishing the third he walked past the saloon and was no longer tempted. He was so full of buttermilk that he had no room for that which would be injurious to him. The lesson is clear: to be victorious over our evil desires, we must leave no opportunity for them to repossess us.
Illustration: Dwight L. Moody once demonstrated the principle like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." But the evangelist replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it." Finally after many suggestions, moody picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession.
III. They Preached The Word of God With Boldness.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
A. They were unashamed and unafraid to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ in spite of persecution (Ex. Stephen).
Illustration: Christians need to take a public stand with God, no matter what the cost. We also need to take a stand for our faith and have the courage to say, "I’m a Christian." If we are to have revival in this nation, that’s what Christians will have to do.
-- Robert Vernon, assistant chief of police, Los Angeles Police Department, in Christianity Today, 3/18/89
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
B. If we would be a powerful church today, we must be willing to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit in spite of persecution.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
IV. They Were A United People.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.....
A. United in Love.
Matthew Henry: The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ’s dying precept to his disciples, and his dying prayer for them. Thus it was then, and it will be so again, when the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high.
1 John 3:18 [Living] Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.
B. United in Purpose.
1. They worked together to get the Gospel to a lost world.
2 Cor. 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
C. We must be united in our work for Christ if we are to be a powerful Church.
Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
V. They Were Unselfish.
Acts 4:32 ....neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
A. The power of God should be revealed to a lost world through love.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger (i.e., sinner): for ye were strangers (i.e., sinners) in the land of Egypt.
1 Thes. 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
B. The love that brings the power of God into our lives, and our churches, is self-sacrificing.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
C. Signs and wonders alone will not bring men to Christ. There must be an expression of His love accompanying them.
Ephes. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Conclusion:
It is the desire and intent of our Heavenly Father that His church be filled with the Holy Spirit and power. Have we done our part? Have we done all that we are suppose to do that we may be filled with His power? If not, then let us repent and be filled anew with His precious Holy Spirit and power. There is so much to do, and so little time to do it!!
