A Church that Glorifies God - 2
A Church that Glorifies God…
Recognizes God’s Blessings – Acts 5:12-16
Relies on God’s Direction – Acts 5:17-32
Rejoices in Suffering for God’s Name – Acts 5:33-42
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Negatives
This past week we had a few tough situations.
Last week we had our lowest attended weekend in over a year
We are working through issues regarding building and how we are going to continue to do the ministry we want during that time.
We had all this snow that made travel and parking a problem.
Sometimes it seems as if everything is a problem.
Do you ever feel that way?
Do you ever feel like life and ministry is nothing but problem after problem?
I am sure many of you have felt this way before.
Part of the problem is However is not the problems, but what we choose to focus on.
Satan wants you to focus on the problems, the negatives, so he works to get your attention on those things.
But I will tell you that keeping a focus on the things that seem to be problems is not glorifying to the Lord.
And the reason it is not is because while there are always going to be negatives, there are also always things that are going great.
Positives
Even though we had our lowest attendance in over a year last week, we just came off a record attendance month and it was only because of the blizzard that it was low.
We are working on thinking through how we are going to continue to do the ministry we desire during this building problem precisely because God is at work and more people are being ministered to through our ministries. I have no doubt that God will work things out so we can continue to do the ministry that is vital to our church.
There are a lot of positive things going on that God is doing.
Transition
In the early church, they faced things just like we do – positive things and negative things.
We are continuing in our study through Acts called the Church unleashed today
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And we have seen through the book of Acts the church experiencing these trials and blessings.
Last week we saw that even in the midst of positives and negatives, that being a church that glorifies God was not dependent on our circumstances but on our faithfulness to the commission along with a growing
Trust in His Sovereignty
Walking in unity and
Living with integrity
Those things are not always easy, but as we grow in our knowledge of the Lord and His control and our relationship with him, we truly can glorify Him as a people and a church.
Transition to this week
Well, those are not the only things that we need to do to be a church that glorifies God.
Today as we go on in Acts 5 (Acts 5:12)
Slide
we are going to see several more practical aspects of living as the church that will help us be a people and a church that Glorifies God.
So let’s jump right into our text today and see what else the Lord can teach us through the example of the early church.
Beginning in Acts 5:12, we read
Acts 5:12-16
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Let’s pause here and pray.
Ok, I love how this section of Scripture focuses on the Blessings of God rather than the things that could have been discouraging.
A church that Glorifies God
Focuses on God’s Blessings
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Here they are talking about how
the Apostles were performing miracles
People were being healed
The believers in Christ were highly regarded
The Lord was adding more and more people to the church daily.
They could have also focused on
their leaders were getting arrested
No one is coming to their services (No one dared join them…)
Two of their members were caught lying to God and were struck dead!
And I don’t doubt that there were some who were focused on that.
But overall, as we read here, it seems that they were largely focused on God’s Blessings.
Make it real
We need to realize that in any situation, God is pouring out blessings.
We just need to look for them and focus on them.
Now this is not a “just think positively and it will be good” pop psychology.
I am not an adherent of that.
But I am an adherent of thinking and focusing on things that are really true and positive because it is not only Scriptural, but it glorifies the Lord.
Paul tells us
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Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
He doesn’t say just think happy thoughts. But we are to think on things that are true that are right and pure, and lovely and admirable. Focus on the real, positive things, the blessings that are going on. That will help you
in serving,
in using your gifts and
in glorifying the Lord.
It is easy to focus on the things that are not perfectly right.
Listen, I will tell you that this side of heaven, nothing will be perfectly right.
There are always things to improve, to get better at, to change.
I am not saying that we can’t ever recognize things that are wrong, but I am saying we need to keep perspective and recognize the blessings God is pouring out and give glory to God for what He is doing through His people.
That is one of the ways the early church glorified God and that is one of the ways we will bring glory to God as well, focus on the blessings He is providing and the awesome work He is doing in areas instead of the areas where things aren’t going as well from your perspective.
Transition
Another thing that a Church that glorifies God does is it
Relies on God’s Direction
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Acts 5:17-32
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin-the full assembly of the elders of Israel-and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.
25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
Now following God’s direction to give Him glory is rather obvious in a large sense.
We have to do what God wants if we are going to glorify Him.
We know that. Most churches know that too, at least in regards to the big ticket items like fulfilling the great commission, sharing the gospel, etc.
Everyone would adhere to Peter’s comment to the Sanhedrin, that “we must obey God rather than men.”
But while most in the church will adhere to wanting to fulfill his commission, wome will at times listen to those outside of the church for how to reach people rather than God’s.
We think sometimes that we can do things better than God.
Now granted, we may not think of it precisely as that stark reality, but is that not what we do when we take away from God what He said He was going to do and try to do it ourselves?
God said He was going to build His church.
Jesus said that on the belief and preaching of the fact that “Jesus is the Christ” that
I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)
It is not our job to build the church. But people try to do that.
And they often try to do that by listening to what those outside the church tell us will bring them into the church.
Relate to Scripture
If the apostles wanted to get along with the Sanhedrin, then they could better do that by stopping preaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection and stop blaming those who crucified Jesus.
Some in the church could have complained and focused on the fact that people weren’t coming to their services.
I find it interesting in verses 13 and 14 what it tells us.
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Check it out again. It says as the disciples gathered together that…
- No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Unbelievers weren’t showing up at their service.
People could have said you need to do something different.
You need to
incorporate some music that they are more familiar with or
Be more entertaining or
don’t talk as much about Jesus,
then we can get some more unbelievers to come to our service.
That is what happens when man tries to build the church.
But our job is not to build the church.
Our job is to follow what the Lord would have us do.
He spells that out specifically in the great commission.
We don’t need to be more entertaining, or have less songs about Jesus, or anything else that the world might say.
We need to tell people about Jesus, encourage them toward steps of faith, and teach them all things as he has commanded and use our gifts and love God and love people.
Illustration
Back in 2004 or 2005, when there was just a few people that were coming here, God began to grow this church
We were not growing because we had the greatest worship team, or because I was an exceptional speaker or because people were showing up to see some crazy stunt or cool show.
I believe we grew and I believe we grow because we seek to glorify God in our worship, in our teaching, in our love for people, in our love for God.
That is it.
Now do we try to do things well? Yes.
Are there things we have to do beyond just loving people and preaching his word? – yes.
Certainly we have to lead and administrate, and give and work, and serve and build, but those are just outpourings of following God and using our gifts.
We don’t need to take direction from the world or those outside the church in how to do church. We need to stay focused on the Lord and His blessings and rely on His direction that he gives in His word.
That is how we will be a church that glorifies God which is really the only type of church to be.
Transition
And finally, we also see that a church that Glorifies God
Rejoices in Suffering for God’s Name
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Acts 5:33-42
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, (Guh May Lee Uhl) a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
The apostles left rejoicing after having been flogged and continued to follow God.
Can you imagine, getting whipped, probably 39 times, leaving there rejoicing while still in pain?
With a close relationship with Christ and a continual focus
on Him and
on the blessing of eternal life that He gives us,
we can rejoice and have peace and contentment in any circumstance.
Paul writes in
Philippians 4:12-13
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12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
The secret is to be in Christ
To be growing in Him and following his direction.
When we are walking by His power and his strength, as individuals and as individual parts of this body, the church gets blessed and we are able to rejoice even in the midst of the suffering that is occurring.
It is then, when someone is suffering and they are able to find joy in the midst of it,
the body gets encouraged,
those on the outside see the peace and joy and begin to wonder what you have that they don’t.
And that thing that you have is no thing at all, it is a Person, the Person, Jesus Christ.
Apply
When you go through times of suffering because of Christ, how do you respond?
This is hard for us here, because we don’t really suffer much for our Christian beliefs of for following Christ.
In many countries in the Middle East, this is a reality.
Pastor Saeed Abedini is in an Iranian jail for preaching the gospel.
He has been in jail for 2.5 years.
He wrote a letter at Christmas and spoke of some of the harsh conditions he faced, but he wrote to encourage Christians to keep focused on the Christ of Christmas.
Listen to how he ends his letter
The same way that the heat from the earth's core melts the hard stones in itself and produces lava, the fiery love of God, Jesus Christ, through the virgin Mary's womb came to earth on Christmas to melt the hard heart of sin and wickedness of the world and removes them from our life. In the same process, the work of the Holy Spirit is a fiery rain of God's holiness and mercy that flows into our body, soul and spirit and brings the light of Christ into us and through us making this dark, cold, wintry world into radiant burning brightness. He is turning our world into a world full of peace, joy and love that is so different than the dark, cold and wintry world that we used to live in. Hallelujah!
So this Christmas let the lava-like love of Christ enter into the depth of your heart and make you fiery, ready to pay any cost in order to bring the same lava love to the cold world around you, transforming them with the true message of Christmas.
Pastor Saeed Abedini
Christmas letter 2014
Here is a man who can rejoice in suffering for the name of Christ.
He does that because he is focused on the blessings of God, even in his circumstance, He is following the direction of God, staying true to the gospel, and even in the midst of suffering, he can rejoice in the Lord.
This type of relationship and rejoicing in suffering can be used by God to draw people to himself.
People will ask, how can he endure?
Through Christ who gives him strength.
How can he rejoice?
Through Christ who gives him strength.
This is what I believe was going on in the early church and why that even as people did not dare join them, more and more people believed.
They believed because they saw the powerful work of God in the lives of the people of the church who were going through difficult times, but experiencing real joy in the midst of suffering.
We need to keep God’s work, God’s love, God’s blessings and His promises for our eternity, in our mind at all times so we can go through those times of suffering and still experience joy and be used by Him like Paul, like Peter, like Pastor Saeed.
Peter writes in
1 Peter 4:12-13
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Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
We need to keep an eternal perspective and then we will be able to rejoice in times of suffering knowing that our Lord suffered and has overcome and Hs in store for those who follow Him an eternity of experiencing the glory of His presence!
Conclusion
To be a church that Glorifies God, means more than just sharing the gospel with others.
To truly be a church that glorifies Him means that we will
Trust in His Sovereignty
Walk in His Unity
Live with His Integrity
Focus on God’s Blessings
Rely on God’s Direction
Rejoice in Suffering for God’s Name
Maybe you haven’t been living in a way that glorifies God.
Maybe you haven’t committed to a church that is seeking to glorify God
Where is it that you need to take a step forward in glorifying the Lord?
Maybe you need to open your eyes to the blessings that God is pouring out and focus on them.
Maybe you need to stop trying to live in your own wisdom and follow God’s direction and leading in His word to live your life.
Maybe you need to gain some eternal perspective with a situation you are suffering through right now and recognize that God is at work in some way that you may not see and rejoice in the suffering you are enduring realizing that it is nothing compared to the glory to be revealed when we see Him face to face.
Illustration - suffering
This past Thursday afternoon, I received an email from a lady in Canada that was going through a difficult time in life because she had so far been unable to have children, the thing she had longed for since being very young.
Anyway she wrote me and told me of the bitterness that she was experiencing at this suffering she was enduring and told me a lot of the details of what she was enduring.
Then she writes
Im sorry to bore you with all of this from a stranger, esp of such a female issue that maybe you do or don't understand. But this morning, during all my angry crying, I was reading my bible and came across the word 'covet'. Then I googled "coveting vs desiring" and I came across your sermon on sermoncentral.com. I always considered my desire for children a good thing, part of my God given make up as a woman. Wanting to be like Hannah in the bible - giving my children to the Lord, teaching them about Jesus, raising them to be faithful servants. Now after reading your [sermon], Im wondering, am I being faithful? Am I being content? Am I turning this into a coveting thing? Im still not sure, but I really appreciated and was encouraged and convicted by the sermon you wrote. But the #1 thing I got was to draw near to Jesus. Keep my eyes on him, keep talking to him, keep submitting to him. Don't give a foothold to sin.
After reading this, it got me thinking of How God leads us when we open our eyes to Him to just what we need.
That message she read was from over 6 years ago and God had planned even then of using that message in this person’s life.
We have a God who is able to work all things for the Good of those who love Him, even our suffering, even our struggles, even the difficulties in life.
These things are not forever. No. Instead, we can be looking forward to our forever in the presence of His glory and take joy now that He is the One who will carry us through to that day.
Bring glory to Him with your life and connect with a church to help the church be one that brings glory to Him as well.
Let’s pray.
