[Computer comparisons – slow vs. fast.]
You know churches can be a lot like those two computers. Some churches can be so cluttered with stuff and so outdated that they don’t operate efficiently. They’re more frustrating than joyful. They take so much effort to do what they’re supposed to do.
But some churches are like a new computer that runs efficiently. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do. And it’s a joy to work with them because they’re doing what God has intended them to do.
And you know, that’s the kind of church we want to be. We want to “be the church” that God’s created us to be. And when we are, then we become a church with favor. [2] Go with me to Acts chapter two as we’re going to continue our look at a church with favor. The first church that ever existed just days after Jesus ascended to the Father.
[Read Acts 2:40-47.]
This was a church that had favor with all the people and it had favor with God as indicated by the Lord adding to their number daily. This was a truly great church. When all kinds of people respect the quality of people you are and when God’s hand of blessing is upon the ministry, that’s a church with favor.
As we saw a couple of weeks ago, the people of this church were characterized by many things. [3] They were devoted, awestruck, selfless, outwardly focused, joyful and fruitful people. Because of that this church had favor with the people and with God.
Now there’s a couple of dynamics about this church that I want us to revisit this morning. Things that were key to them having favor. First of all their devotion. These were a people that were completely focused on Jesus and it showed in their devotion.
[Read Acts 2:42.]
[4] Four things typified their devotion. They were devoted to the Apostles teaching or to God’s Word. They were devoted to fellowship or to each other. They were devoted to the breaking of bread or to worship. And they were devoted to prayer. These are the four things that kept the people focused on Jesus Christ. This is what held that church together! If we as individuals and as a church will remain devoted to these four things it will keep us focused on Jesus Christ and we will be a church with favor.
Devotion to the Word of God. Go to II Timothy 3:16-18.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
God Word gives us everything we need to know Him and to grow in Him. It equips us for life, it guides our life, it comforts our hearts and gives us hope. A Christian who isn’t devoted to God’s Word is like someone walking through a jungle blindfolded. Sooner or later the jungle will stop you in your tracks. We must be devoted to God’s Word.
Devotion to each other. Go to I John 3:16-18.
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (Drop down to 4:7.)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
The people of the first church decided to partner through life together simply because they had a very real love for one another. Life can be hard at times and we need each other to make it through with our faith and our sanity intact. A Christian who isn’t devoted to fellowship with other believers is like someone walking through the jungle alone. You’re going to get lonely and scared when nightfall comes.
Devotion to worship. The early church set aside regular times of coming together to worship. Something we should be devoted to as well. Go to Hebrews 10:23-25.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
We need our times of worship together. We need to gather and focus all our energy on the Lord through song and prayer and meditation. He deserves it and we surely need it. A Christian who isn’t devoted to worship is like someone walking through the jungle so focused on themselves that they miss the wonder of God’s creation all around them.
Devotion to prayer. Go to I Thessalonians 5:16-18.
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
It is God’s will for us to be a praying people and a praying church. Prayer is where we access the power of God. Prayer is where we access the heart of God. Prayer is where we access answers from God.
A Christian who isn’t devoted to prayer is like someone walking through the jungle without a compass, a guide or a cell phone. That person is going to get lost.
To be a church of favor we need to be people devoted to God’s Word, devoted to each other, devoted to worship and devoted to prayer. The first church had that devotion.
Along with devotion, the first church also had unity. [5]
[Read Acts 2:43-46.]
What a joyful, unified congregation they were. They didn’t let petty differences drive wedges between them. They were devoted to the Lord and that was all that mattered.
Now maintaining unity in a church can sometimes be a tricky thing. I mean, since the church is made up of people, and since all of us people have struggles with self-centeredness, unity gets challenged every once in a while. But there are some practical things a church can do to remain unified and focused on Jesus Christ. [6]
Stop complaining. Go to Philippians 2:14.
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”
This verse was given by the Apostle Paul to the church in the city of Philippi. The verse was given in the context of living like the Lord wants you to live. There’s no exception clause. There’s no footnote. There’s no “but” after the verse. We as believers are to stop complaining period.
Instead of complaining about things that bother us we need to praying about things that bother us. Maybe, just maybe God has a plan for the discomfort in your life.
Now I’ll be honest with you, this is something that I have my struggles with. When my cable tv starts freezing up right in the middle of my favorite show that I’ve been waiting to watch all week, I can go on one of the best rants of complaints you’ve ever heard.
When the drive through guy forgets one of my burgers and I don’t realize it until I get all the way home – time to vent my frustration.
But all the complaining in the world doesn’t put another Big Mac in my bag. Praying and handling the situation with grace is God’s way for us to deal with life’s frustrations. So to help maintain unity in a church we need to stop complaining.
Along with that, there’s never justification for slandering someone’s character and gossiping about them. Slander and gossip can divide a church. Go to Proverbs 6:16-19.
“There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.”
This passage along with many others throughout the entire Bible show us God’s utter disdain for slander and gossip. Especially when it’s amongst the brethren. There’s just no excuse, no justification and no righteous fruit will come from it. Only strife.
If you have a problem with someone you need to talk to them – not about them. Listen, we’re brothers and sisters here. And brothers and sisters aren’t going to agree on everything. But if we are truly devoted to one another because of the love that God’s shown us, we owe it to each other to talk directly to each other and not about each other.
Just what are we trying to accomplish through slander and gossip? Don’t say we’re just trying to express our concern. Don’t say we’re just trying to clear our minds and our hearts. Because the best way to express our concerns and clear our conscience is to talk directly to the person we have a problem with! Slander and gossip are simply prideful ways of manipulating a situation for our own benefit. (According to the Scriptures, God hates it!)
So instead of complaining and slander and gossip, we need to be of the same mind. Go to I Corinthians 1:10.
”Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Real unity as a church comes when everyone is so focused on Jesus that we’re all headed in the same direction. So focused on Jesus that we’re more concerned with what He wants instead of what we want. Listen to what Paul told the church in Ephesus in his letter to them on this subject.
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
It is our responsibility to everything we can to preserve unity within the body of Christ – not destroy it with our selfish, careless words.
When we are unified with each other because we are completely devoted to the Lord then we will be a church with favor. Favor with people and favor with God. [7]
[Read Acts 2:47.]
God’s hand of blessing was upon that church and the people of the city respected them and gave them favor. What a great church the first church was. They were focused on Jesus, living as He directed them to live, and favor was upon them.
But what about us? What about Bay Ridge Baptist Church? Are we a church of favor? In many ways I believe we are a church with favor. We have a great reputation of friendliness and generosity amongst people. God continues to grow us spiritually. We’re growing in numbers again. Different ministries are starting on a regular basis. Wonderful things happen here every week. We do have a lot of favor upon our church.
But we definitely haven’t arrived. God continues to mold us into the church that we need to be. And you know what’s so great – God loves our church. He does! He loves us and wants to shape us into a church that carries the Message of hope to the community around us. We can be that place where people come for love and acceptance and encouragement and advice and power and forgiveness. Let’s all do our part!
You see, that’s why we’re still here! We carry the Message of hope to the hurting. The hope made possible by what Jesus has done on the cross.
This morning through communion we remember what Jesus has done for us. The ultimate price He paid for our sins. The hope that He gives us when we believe in what He’s done. So before we celebrate the Lord, let’s examine ourselves to make sure that we’re doing our part to make our church a church with favor.
[Read I Corinthians 11:23-32.]
[Quiet reflection time.]
[Communion, closing prayer.]
