To the Ends of the Earth, Part 6
God’s Protection and Faithfulness Matters
Acts 4:23-37 – Acts 5:1-11
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)
-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)
-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)
- Last week the focus of the message was boldness – specif. on sharing our faith
-- KEY: When the Gospel is proclaimed, the results are up to God (He saves)
-- The disciples message: proclaim how good God is - we must do the same!
- Today, we’ll unpack the effects of obedience, as well as a vital example
-- It amplifies the call of being obedient: even being truthful in our finances
-- NOT a message about giving … but it certainly gives weight to its importance
-- Umbrella of our calling to obey God … so it has relevance for us today!
- Read Acts 4:23 – 5:11 / Pray
- TR: Today’s reading outlines three pivotal questions (refer to handout)
Point 1 – How must we Respond to God’s Protection?
- Even under the threat of persecution and prison, faithfulness to God is required
-- This what we see in their release, not their rejoicing of how lucky they are
-- CH: Have a prayer answered? Do you praise? Where/Who is your focus?
- Look at what happens once Peter & John return to the other disciples
-- They were not depressed, sad, or afraid about what happened (vv23-24)
-- They were also not boastful or full of pride in their abilities to evade prison
-- Rather, their response was singularly focused on leading others to pray & praise
-- Why? Because they had conviction (or proof) of God’s incredible protection!
- v24 is a great example of the edification (building up) that the church needs
-- As men who we unafraid, they blessed the church by lifting it up to God
-- They shared what had happened, what was said, and what the threat was
-- But still confirmed (or declared) the praise of what God had done for them
- IMP: Their commitment to praising God is the focus of the whole event
-- Jeremiah 29:13, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
-- Prayer is not about getting what you want, but glorifying God - even in our ask!
-- And so, Peter & John’s story moved others to praise God – to lift him up!
- Real Talk: This is a prime example of how the church should face adversity
-- Rather than the gossip vine – they activated the prayer chain!
- APP: This outcome is a tremendous lesson for us to put into practice today
-- Yes, persecution brings a challenge, but the glory of what happens is still God’s
-- Hint: Notice how this turns the focus from their situation to who God is to us!
- The church sees who they truly are and why their mission is so critical … how?
-- Because together they had conviction of man’s futility vs. God’s plans (vv25-28)
- In their prayer, they recite the history of why they are there (Psa 2:1-2 / David):
• Confessed that man opposed God’s way, which is rebellious to Him
• Summarized the continuous rebellion and failure of man’s ways over God’s
• Exclaim how nation after nation has prepared to wage war against God
• (v27) Even Herod Antipas, by Pilate’s orders, unified the opposition to God
-- We see this today: Society continues to discredit who God is – it is repulsive!
- Yet the counsel (or wisdom) of God is what ultimately determines their path
-- Re-read v28 …. God already knew what they would do and their outcomes
-- APP: God’s truth is what calls them to their mission: Q: “What must we do?”
- ANSWER: They had a deep conviction of God’s assignment! (vv29-30)
-- Their mission, in short, was to speak the word of God – to cry out to Him for:
-- Protection / for evil to be destroyed / for persecution to stop / and for boldness
-- They prayed for miracles to continue & for wonders to be done in Jesus name
-- APP: Believe that more churches need this … FACT: it’s how the church grows
-- BIG: Spiritual growth is far greater than physical (or numeric) growth
- Reality: More programs and activities are cool & great & awesome – but …
-- What good are those if the church is filled with spiritual babies?
-- Infants can’t lead – spiritual maturity is needed to bring others to Christ
-- APP: It is a subtle reminder that maturing in Christ must be our goal
- When they prayed, what was the result? It was a dramatic result! (v31)
-- The very ground they stood on shook, the Holy Spirit filled, and they preached!
-- APP: Best evidence that you’ve spent time with God: What comes out of you?
-- 1 Peter 3:15, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”
- TR: If we’ll be faithful, God promises to also bring us a dramatic result …
Point 2 – What is the church’s response to God?
- The church must become the living representation of carrying out Christ’s work
-- What is His work? To redeem and rescue what was lost (His Father’s creation)
-- However, we must ensure that we are doing it with Him leading us!
- Give you three examples of evidence of the Church’s response to God:
1. They were of one heart and mind (v32)
- Their mission was specific: to lead others to know Jesus, personally
-- Consider: If a church today would be this bold it would be unstoppable
- The first believers were not focused on worldly things (possessions, stuff)
-- What they treasured most was seeing others brought into the Kingdom
- I’m not telling you to go sell all you have – but where/what is your priority?
-- Jesus: Matthew 6:19-21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
2. They gave a great witness to the resurrection (v33)
- This is the cornerstone of their message: He is Alive!
-- Remember: over 500 people saw Him resurrected and still teaching
-- Very critical to remember: Those who preached were eyewitnesses to this
- BUT even those who did see Him, were coming because they believed
-- Remember the results of Acts 2 and 3 … thousands were being saved / added!
-- Not because Disciples had some special training – but because they shared Jesus
3. They took care of all who had a need (vv34-37)
- One of the hallmarks of discipleship is filling the needs of others
-- It is the living practice of hospitality – or the giving freely to fill a need
-- EX: Last year, this church gave 1006% over its benevolence budget – PTL!
-- APP: Generosity is an incredible attribute when you consider its eternal impact
- These men truly loved Christ, and in their love they expressed it others freely
-- APP: This was not done for what they could get; but to testify for Christ
-- Luke 9:23, “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
-- It is a way of life that attests to freedom – b/c giving is hard with a closed fist!
- TR: When we serve, when we lead, it must be with faithful intentions …
Point 3 – Why do we need to be faithful to God?
- RE: We have discussed the results of how the church persevered
-- Even examined how, even in the face of adversity, people were still being saved
-- And in the midst of this, we see a perfect example of what disobedience brings
- Ananias and Sapphira decided to hatch a plan to lie – to deceive God (vv1-2)
-- This is the root of their sin and where their troubles began - and sadly, ended
-- They turned their backs on God and decided to do what they felt was right
- Don’t miss Peter’s response re-read v4 … they didn’t HAVE to sell it!
-- Nor did they have to give any money to the church - they decided to give
-- But they decided (together) they would lie about it just to be “acknowledged”
-- FREE: Pay attention gentlemen, your wife will follow you in sin if you allow it
- But Why? Why would these good folks do this to the church?
- Look at Acts 4:37 … they saw what Barnabas did & were jealous! “BUT in v1”
-- They wanted to be noticed too, to be made a big deal of, they wanted recognition
-- BIG APP: When we try to do it our way God is not going to be fooled!
-- Galatians 6:7 – “Don’t be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”
-- APP: This is why we must ensure we are living truthfully/faithfully for God
- IMPORTANT:
• God didn’t strike them dead because they didn’t give everything
• He didn’t strike them dead because they weren’t charitable enough
• He struck them dead (He held them accountable) because of their MOTIVES
• Their purposes were a stench to Heaven (read v9) & God was not having it
- Look at the response the church had (v11) … they were seized with FEAR!
-- Consider: People dropped dead in the presence of this kind of righteousness
-- Imagine if God struck 2 liars dead in our service, could we bury them outside?
- Get this: The Church had to be very conscious of their reputation / live upright
-- They could not approve of hypocrisy b/c the world was hoping they would fail
-- The people of Jerusalem, esp. the religious, wanted them to all just go away!
-- TIP: If you don’t think the world wants Seasons Church to fail …
- Why? 33 AD: The denials of Jesus’ resurrection were rampant in Jerusalem
-- The religious could not have anything take away their power and authority
-- So, the church had to be above reproach in everything – 2024 is the same
-- We must live the way God tells us to live without making excuses for it
- Scandal, disobedience, failure to obey, sin in the church, etc. – it’s the same junk
-- It detracts from what God has called us to do – or called us to witness about!
BIG IDEA
- Today’s lesson is simple, and yet so crucial to our growth … Ready?
-- Watch your life and be consistent for God in everything you do (live upright)
-- If you are going to worship, going to give, going to pray – do it focused on Him!
-- We have a very simple, narrow, path to follow when it comes to obedience
-- Our calling in life (not easy one) is to be faithful to proclaim what God has done!
- Pray
