THE COURAGE OF THE CHURCH
ACTS 4:1-35
OFFERATORY PRAYER
HEAVENLY FATHER, IN THE QUIETNESS OF THIS SACRED HOUR, WE HEAR YOUR VOICE CALLING US AWAY FROM THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE THAT OFTEN CLOUD OUR VISION OF YOU. AS WE TURN OUR EYES UPON JESUS, LET THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD GROW STRANGELY DIM IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR GLORY AND GRACE. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE TITHE BELONGS TO YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY, OUR FATHER, WE BRING IT TO YOU NOW. THIS WE DO, NOT OUT OF A SENSE OF OBLIGATION, BUT OUT OF A SPIRIT OF LOVE, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD:
A-MEN
THE COURAGE OF THE CHURCH
THE WORLD HAS ALWAYS HAD A SHORT BUT CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF TRULY COURAGEOUS PEOPLE. AS CHILDREN WE SOUGHT THEM ON THE PAGES OF COMIC BOOKS, OR ON THE TELEVISION. I CAN REMEMBER TYING A TOWEL AROUND MY NECK AND BEING THE CAPED CRUSADER (BATMAN) OR BEING SUPERMAN. I WAS PART OF THE RAT PATROL A TV SERIES BASED ON WWII. THE MEN DROVE JEEPS, I HAD A BICYCLE BUT IT DID THE TRICK IN A PINCH WITH IMAGINATION. COWBOYS WERE ALWAYS FEARLESS, AND WHEN I WOULD STRAP ON MY SIX-SHOOTERS SO WAS I. GOOD GUYS WERE ALWAYS RIGHT AND BRAVE, BAD GUYS WERE ALWAYS WRONG AND WOULD HIDE.
WHEN I GREW UP I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE WHERE I THOUGHT PEOPLE OF COURAGE WERE. SOME OF MY FAVORITE SPORTS STARS, TEAM CANADA 1972, WATCHING THE REMEMBERANCE DAY PARADE SPECIFICALLY THE VETERANS AND THE ARMY CADETS FROM BACK HOME, A MAN WITH ONE LEG WHO RAN HALFWAY ACROSS CANADA TO RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH. THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO TRIED TO SAVE SO MANY PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF 911. WE CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS TRUE COURAGE.
THE CHURCH HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY AS A RESULT OF THE COURAGE OF THE MARTYRS. FOXES BOOK OF MARTYRS IS FULL OF STORIES OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD NOT DENY THEIR FAITH, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DEATH IN HIDEOUS WAYS. MODERN DAY MISSIONARIES BRAVELY FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. TODAY, PEOPLE WHO CLAIM CHRISTIANITY IN MOSLIM AREAS OF THE WORLD DO SO AT THE PERIL OF LOSING THEIR LIVES. YET THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO. IT WOULD BE TRUE TO SAY THAT THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH HAS BEEN GREATLY AIDED BY THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS.
CONSIDER THE CHURCH AS PRESENTED HERE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. IT HAS FACED PERSECUTION FRIGHT FROM THE ONSET. ALL BUT ONE OF THE APOSTLES FACED UNNATURAL AND VIOLENT DEATH BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGE. THEY ALL FACED THE PERSECUTION OF IMPRISONMENT AND BEATINGS, BUT STILL THEY WOULD NOT DENY THEIR FAITH. THOSE LIKE STEPHEN WHO RESPONDED TO THEIR MESSAGE FACED THE SAME PERSECUTION AND BRAVELY WENT TO THEIR DEATHS, RATHER THAN TO DENY THEIR FAITH. AS A RESULT THE CHURCH GREW AND FLURISHED IN THE MIDST OF THEIR PAIN.
IN THIS PASSAGE PETER USES THE HEALING THAT HAPPENED IN CHAPTER THREE TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO THE CROWD THAT HAD GATHERED. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OPPOSED THIS VIGORUSLY BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GET THE MEN STOPPED. FINALLY THEY HAD THEM ARRESTED.
CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT THE MEN WHO WERE PRESENT WHEN PETER AND JOHN WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
ACTS 4:6: “ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST WAS THERE, ALONG WITH CAIAPHAS, JOHN, ALEXANDER, AND OTHER RELATIVES OF THE HIGH PRIEST.”
NOW CONSIDER THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE POSED TO THEM.
ACTS 4:7: “THEY BROUGHT IN THE TWO DISCIPLES AND DEMANDED, “BY WHAT POWER, OR IN WHOSE NAME, HAVE YOU DONE THIS?’’”
THESE WERE THE SAME MEN IN CHARGE OF THE JEWISH TRIAL OF JESUS. THEY WERE THE ONES WHO TORMENTED PILATE TO THE POINT WHERE HE ORDERED JESUS EXECUTION. IT WAS THE SAME TYPE OF QUESTIONING THAT JESUS FACED. THERE WERE CERTAINLY ENOUGH SIMILARLITIES THAT PETER AND JOHN MAY HAVE EXPECTED THE SAME FATE AS JESUS.
A THING I’VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE TRAPPED IN A ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF WILD ANIMALS, DON’T ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE, PUT MEAT TENDERIZER AND GRAVY ON YOUR ARM, FIND THE MEANEST OF THE ANIMALS AND SAY COME HERE BOY HAVE I GOT A TREAT FOR YOU.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT PETER AND JOHN DID. THEY WERE IN A ROOM FULL OF MEN WHO WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THEM AND GET THEM OUT OF THEIR HAIR, AND THE FIRST THING PETER DOES IS ACCUSE THEM OF KILLING JESUS. ANY LAWYER WOULD TELL YOU THAT’S NOT A GOOD MOVE.
ACTS 4:8-11:
“8 THEN PETER, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SAID TO THEM, “RULERS AND ELDERS OF OUR PEOPLE, 9 ARE WE BEING QUESTIONED TODAY BECAUSE WE’VE DONE A GOOD DEED FOR A CRIPPLED MAN? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW HE WAS HEALED? 10 LET ME CLEARLY STATE TO ALL OF YOU AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL THAT HE WAS HEALED BY THE POWERFUL NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE, THE MAN YOU CRUCIFIED BUT WHOM GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD. 11 FOR JESUS IS THE ONE REFERRED TO IN THE SCRIPTURES, WHERE IT SAYS, ’THE STONE THAT YOU BUILDERS REJECTED HAS NOW BECOME THE CORNERSTONE.’”
THE REST OF THIS ACCOUNT IS PART OF THE THRILLING MESSAGE THAT PETER GAVE THAT DAY. IT IN FACT IS THE CRY OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. MEN AND WOMEN COMMITTED TO CHRIST, IN THE FACE OF THE SWORD, TIED TO THE STAKE, IMPRISONED, AWAITING THE AXE, ALL WITH THE SAME COURAGE, NOT TO DENY THEIR FAITH.
WE STILL SEE THIS TYPE OF FAITH TODAY FOR THE SAME REASON, AND THAT IS THAT OUR FAITH IS BUILT ON REALITY. WHEN YOU KNOW SOMETHING TO BE TRUE, YOU CAN’T HELP BUT BE WITNESS TO THAT TRUTH.
ACTS 4:19-20:
“19 BUT PETER AND JOHN REPLIED, “DO YOU THINK GOD WANTS US TO OBEY YOU RATHER THAN HIM? 20 WE CANNOT STOP TELLING ABOUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.’’”
I FEAR THAT FAITH IN GOD HAS BECOME A MATTER OF “EASY BELIEVISM” TODAY. VERY SELDOM ARE WE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THE ONLY THING WE CAN DEPEND ON IS OUR FAITH. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THE APOSTLES, AND THE EARLY CHURCH.
H.G.WELLS STATES:
THE PROBLEM WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IS THAT THE VOICE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS SOUNDS LOUDER IN THEIR EARS THAN THE VOICE OF GOD.”
SOME SAID OF THE GREAT REFORMER JOHN KNOX THAT HE FEARED GOD SO MUCH THAT HE DID NOT FEAR ANY MAN.
A PAPAL ENVOY HAVING THREATENED MARTIN LUTHER BY SAYING THAT HIS FOLLOWERS WERE DESERTING, THEN ASKED LUTHER, “THEN, WHERE WOULD YOU BE?” LUTHER REPLIED, “THEN AS NOW, I WOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF GOD.”
YOU MAY THINK “THAT’S THE WAY IT WAS THEN, BUT IT IS SURE DIFFERENT NOW”, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT IS JUST THE SAME NOW AS IT WAS THEN. THE DISCIPLES GAINED THEIR COURAGE FROM CHRIST, AND HIS PRESENCE IN THEIR LIVES. HE WAS THEIR LORD, AND THEY WOULD SERVE HIM NO MATTER WHAT.
SHAKESPEARE ASKED “WHAT’S IN A NAME?” WELL WHEN THE NAME IS JESUS THE ANSWER IS EVERYTHING. A NAME IN THE BIBLE STANDS FOR THE AUTHORITY AND PERSON OF THE ONE DESIGNATED. PETER AND JOHN QUICKLY POINT OUT THAT IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT THE MAN WAS HEALED. IT IS THE SAME POWER THAT HEALED BLIND BARTIMAEUS, LIFE FOR A DEAD LAZARUS, AND FORGIVENESS TO A SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL. AND IT IS THE NAME THAT BRINGS HEALING, COMFORT OF MIND AND HEART, AND FORGIVENESS TODAY.
TODAY, THE CHURCH FACES PERSECUTION OF VARIOUS KINDS, DEPENDING ON GEOGRAPHIC LOCALITY, BUT EVEN THIS COULD CHANGE AS WE PROGRESS INTO THE FUTURE.
PEOPLE IN SOME COUNTRIES FACE DEATH FOR MAKING COMMITMENTS TO CHRIST. HERE IS NORTH AMERICA CHRISTIANS FACE PERSECUTION BOUT OF A DIFFERENT KIND.
WE FACE IT IN THE WORLD OF ETHICS. IF CHRIST IS LORD OF OUR LIVE THEN OUR WORK ETHICS SHOULD DISPLAY THAT. THIS MEANS THAT AS WE CONDUCT OUR LIVES AS GOD WOULD HAVE US TO DO, WE MAY COME IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE COMPANY WANTS US TO DO. WE MAY BE FACED WITH A CHOICE TO COMPROMISE OUR CHRISTIAN BELIEFS, OR RESIGN OUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
OUR PERSECUTION COMES IN THE FORM OF OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BEING CHALLENGED AND IN SOME CASES DENIED. IT WOULD SEEM TODAY THAT THERE IS MORE FREEDOM OF RELIGION FOR EVERYONE BUT CHRISTIANS. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE OUR COUNTRY HAS MORE PROBLEMS NOW AS A RESULT OF THIS.
OUR PERSECUTION COMES IN THE FORM OS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE PLAINLY UNBIBLICAL. WE JUST SIGNED A PETITION BECAUSE A CHANGE OCCURRED IN ABORTION RIGHTS IN OUR PROVINCE. NATIONALLY A LEADER OF A PARTY HAS STATED THAT TO BE A CANTIDATE FOR THAT PARTY IN THE NEXT ELECTION THE PERSON MUST BE “PRO-CHOICE.”
THE CHURCH FACES THE PERSECUTION OF SOCIETY ON SOCIAL ISSUES. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE STAND THAT WE HAVE TAKEN AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WILL BE CHALLENGED.
THE CHURCH FACES PERSECUTION FINANCIALLY. I MAINTAIN THAT WITH THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE THAT OUR COUNTRY IS UNDER, THAT IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE CHURCH LOSES TAX-FREE STATUS. AT THAT POINT MANY WILL HAVE TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
HOW WILL WE RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN SOCIETY TODAY? THE ANSWER MUST BE FOUND IN OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST NOT TO OUR BUILDING. THE CHURCH WILL CONTINUE WHETHER WE HAVE A BUILDING TO WORSHIP IN OR NOT. THROUGH EVERY STORM AND UPHEAVEL THE CHURCH WILL LIVE AND GROW.
WE FACE THE PERSECUTION OF OUR FAMILIES. WHEN THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE STANDS THAT WE TAKE BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. THERE MAY BE FAMILY EVENTS THAT WE CANNOT GO TO BECAUSE THEY CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES. IT COULD BE A PROBLEM AS SIMPLE AS SCHEDULING. MOST FAMILY EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED ON THE WEEKEND. WHERE DOES CHURCH FALL INTO THE PLAN, OR IS IT A FACTOR AT ALL?
WE MUST LOOK TO GOD AS LORD OF OUR LIVES NOT JUST SAVIOR. WE WILL FIND IN HIM THE COURAGE OF PETER AND JOHN TO BE ABLE TO SAY
ACTS 4:18-20:
“18 SO THEY CALLED THE APOSTLES BACK IN AND COMMANDED THEM NEVER AGAIN TO SPEAK OR TEACH IN THE NAME OF JESUS. 19 BUT PETER AND JOHN REPLIED, “DO YOU THINK GOD WANTS US TO OBEY YOU RATHER THAN HIM? 20 WE CANNOT STOP TELLING ABOUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.’’”
GOD GRANT US THIS SAME COURAGE AS WE FACE THE DAYS AHEAD.
