When Foundations Shake
(Acts 4:23-31)
1. In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: "There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson guy said I had to start paying him five dollars a lesson. So I just went back to paying the bully." Many of us find it is easier just to pay the bully than it is to learn how to defeat him. [Sermon Central, David Yarbrough]
2. Fear is a strong bully. I wonder how many it affects our service for God?
3. As Paige and Amy shared their missionary trip experience, they both express how good it was for them to get out of their comfort zones. But we rarely make such choices.
4. Fear makes us conform. Both teens and adults give into peer pressure because they fear mockery, they fear being alone and deserted and disapproved by others.
5. Jim Elliot wrote, "The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous."
6. Persecution and threats were a new experience to Peter and John; they were becoming dangerous.
• When they arrested Jesus, Peter was bold for a few moments.
• John was the bravest, in some ways; but he had connections.
• But to minister under the shadow of persecution was a new experience.
Main Idea: When Christians get serious about their faith and venture beyond their comfort zones, they have a much deeper appreciation for the support God gives them.
TS ----- > This support takes several forms.
I. FELLOWSHIP: A Spiritual Family (23-24)
A. The Encouragement of Sympathizing EARS
One of the greatest ministries on earth is the ministry of listening.
Some of you are going through times right now where you just need others to listen…nothing more
B. Solidarity Through United PRAYER
1. In a way, William Carey is considered the first modern missionary, way back in the 1700’s.
ILLUSTRATION After hearing an account of the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: "There is a [spiritual] gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?"
"I will venture to go down," said (William) Carey, "but remember that you must hold the ropes."
2. We "hold the ropes" for others through financial support, moral support, and prayer. Do not underestimate prayer.
3. Prayer is both vertical (worship) and horizontal (helping others). In its horizontal aspects -- especially in group settings, it shows love, concern, and camaraderie.
Application: God supports us through fellowship in a specific church. Do we take advantage of that opportunity? Are we there to support others?
II. SCRIPTURE: A Foundation in the Word of God (25-26)
A. Guidance as to what to EXPECT
1. This is the era is which the Kings of the earth rise up against the Lord and against His anointed. This era ends when Jesus returns to reign. Because the disciples were aware of this passage, they knew that their experience was typical.
2. John tells us that there are "many antichrists" that arise before the big one.
3. When you know the Scriptures well, you can anticipate so much of what happens in life…more realistic about human nature and the course of life
B. The ASSURANCE of God’s Word
When God explains beforehand … a reassurance that the seemingly crazy things in life that happen are compatible with a sovereign God.
III. THEOLOGY: A Framework to Interpret Life (27-28)
A. God’s SOVEREIGNTY
1. Note the phrases in this prayer that highlight God’s sovereign hand: "You made" (24), "You spoke" (25, and "You decided."
2. In verse 28, we see the paradox of human responsibility and God’s predestination. προορι’ζω = to determine beforehand, to mark out with a boundary before (like a coloring book)
3. God governs in human affairs, even in the death of Jesus Christ. From the viewpoint of bystanders, they could not understand it. In retrospect, we see the genius of God.
4. Herod and Pontius Pilate thought they were free agents; but God was using their evil dispositions for a good end, our salvation
5. Note that all people are represented as guilty: "Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed."
6. This is the prime example of a phenomenon we frequently see, God’s holy irony.
B. The Right WORLDVIEW
1. Our theology and worldview should be the same.
2. Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? What is God like? How can I be right with God? How can I know right from wrong? What is the purpose of government, family? What is my responsibility to others?
3. When I visit certain people in the hospital, I have to put on a gown, plastic gloves, and a face mask. Why? To avoid getting an infection (like Mersa) or giving one.
4. This is why "friendship with the world" is dangerous; it can result in a spiritual infection of our worldview.
IV. PRAYER: A Lifeline to God (29-30)
Group prayer: both a horizontal & vertical. Here is the vertical.
A. HELP (29)
1. The disciples did not ask God to destroy their enemies; they had come a long way from Luke 9:51-55
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.
2. They asked God to held them deal with these threats
3. The asked for boldness, παρρησι’α means openness, confidence, boldness, frankness. Psalm 138:2-3 gives us a good OT background verse:
"I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted."
4. Most of us struggle with being "bold" in our witness.
We have seen too many Christians become obnoxious, and we don’t want to do that.
Preaching is for crowds; sharing is for individuals or small groups.
B. PETITION
1. Here, they petition God to allow them to work many miracles so that God would be glorified and the truth known, as a confirmation.
2. The Apostles had the task of preaching the Gospel; it was God’s task to verify their message with miracles.
V. EMPOWERMENT: The Holy Spirit Using Us (31)
A. A SHAKE of Assurance
1. Persecution makes us question whether God is behind us.
2. So God gave them a shake
3. This is the only time God gave a shake to reassure
B. BOLDNESS through the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of boldness. The word tells us, "…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Tim. 1:7, ESV)
This is why it is so important to know and believe that the Holy Spirit indwells you; because He does, you can stretch beyond yourself!
