THESE MEN HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!
Acts 4:1-22
INTRODUCTION
A couple of questions. Firstly: Why are so many churches nearly empty?!
(ALLOW RESPONSES)
Secondly: Why do so few Christians make an impact?(ALLOW RESPONSES)
Someone read 1 Cor 3:1-4
What does this passage say about the questions we have just posed?
(ALLOW RESPONSE)
We are told one reason we’re not making an impact, one reason the church is not growing, is because we’re too worldly! Our sights are set too low. We don’t live differently to those without Christ. We need to ask ourselves this question, ‘What is the most important thing in my life?’ ‘What is or are my primary goal/s?’ Am I too worldly to make a difference for Christ?
Someone read Matt 26:57-58
What reason does Matthew give for our ineffectiveness for Christ?
(ALLOW RESPONSE)
He says, ‘You’re half-hearted! You stand back and only associate with Christ when it’s comfortable.’ Do we, like Peter, ‘sit with the guards’ - sit with the enemy to see if it’s going to be safe to stand up and be counted. Ask yourself, ‘Am I full-on when I’m with those of like mind but strangely silent in the presence of those who may not hold to what I believe? Am I willing to be ridiculed, rejected, misrepresented and if need be, am I willing to die for Jesus?’ or ‘Do I only fly my colours when it’s safe?’
Someone read Rev 3:14-17
What is the Lord telling this group of believers? (ALLOW RESPONSE)
They are lukewarm – ‘couldn’t care less’ type believers. ‘Ah, look if I can find the time to build my relationship with God that’s great, but it’s no big deal if it does or doesn’t happen!’ Ask yourself, ‘Am I really concerned about my relationship with Christ, do I long for others to come to know Him? Or am I a ‘take it or leave it’ Christian – if it happens that’s great but if not, well no big deal?!’ Does your enthusiasm or lack thereof show for Christ?
Please turn with me to Acts chapter 4.
Laura will read vss 1-12 and Tim vss 13-22.
Listen very carefully and see if you can discover some principles for living a dynamic, vital and disturbing Christian life. A life that would impact our society, point people to Christ and build our churches.
(PLEASE READ TO US – ACTS 4:1-12 FOLLOWED BY VS. 13-22)
It is quite evident that Peter and John lived by the principles which we want to discover. Their experience of Christ was vital, disturbing and productive, in fact so much so that even their accusers were deeply impressed – see verse 13. 13 ’When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.’
How remarkable! – these ordinary followers of Jesus impressed the rulers and authorities of the day so much that they were ‘astonished’ – flabbergasted, knocked off their feet, speechless, bewildered. And in their minds there was no question that Peter and John had absorbed much from Jesus! ’…they took note that these men had been with Jesus.’
Oh if only people would say the same about you and me!
What was their secret? – Will you, Peter and John, let us in on your secret? You see, at rock bottom their foundation was Jesus Christ. They knew and trusted the source and sustainer of all life. They were in relationship with Him. They had turned from trying to run their own lives to giving over to their beloved Jesus. Having Him as their bedrock, what principles came into play to enable them to live such dynamic Christian lives.
I have noted seven principles in this passage, four of which are contained in verse 13 alone.
The first is the principle of,
1. NAILING YOUR COLOURS TO THE MAST FAST
Notice the word ‘saw’ in verse 13, When they ‘saw’ … .
Some years back I got a job working for Viscount, building mobile homes. In my initial interview I explained that my time with them would be limited due to the fact that I’d be going back to complete theological studies – I let them know that I was a Christian. Well they called the other 20-30 employees together to introduce me to them, and said, ‘Now you guys watch your language, your jokes and your behaviour because this guys a Christian.’ Well, talk about having my colours nailed to the mast fast. And from then on everybody at work would watch me to see if I was fair dinkum. And the Lord used that time wonderfully – and I thank Him for it! I was made to nail my colours to the mast.
We can be sure that those with whom we live and work will see if we truly have been with Jesus. They will be looking to see if we ‘walk the talk’. We must nail our colours to the mast fast and we must live consistent to our colours.
So the first principle is to live so that your faith can be seen. … they ‘saw’ …and they took note that these (people) had been with Jesus.
The second principle is to do with courage.
What is the difference between being courageous and fearless? Is there in fact any difference?
(ALLOW RESPONSE)
So the second principle is,
2. USE YOUR FEAR
Observe the word ‘courage’ in verse 13, When they saw the ‘courage’ of Peter & John … . The rulers & priests saw that these men were holding to what they believed even though they were facing danger. And that made a greater impression than arrogant fearlessness! You see, courage doesn’t mean not being afraid. It means facing your fear! Did you hear that, ‘courage means the ability to do something that frightens you!’
Peter and John’s courage was seen in at least 2 areas. Firstly, in their Manner. They had a holy boldness and confidence in facing their accusers. And we must follow their example - although we may be afraid, we need to stand for what we know to be right. We need to cling to the promise that Christ will never leave or forsake us. Then we’ll make an impression – it may not be a good one, but it will be God’s one!
Secondly, their courage was seen in their Message. What holy bravery characterised Peter and John as they proclaimed the message of Jesus, in spite of the fact that they had been forbidden to do so! It is one thing to sing: ‘I’m not ashamed to own my Lord ... .’ in church on Sunday, it‘s quite another to live it out and proclaim it on Monday. We need to hold to the message and present it despite our fears. For then we will make a difference – then we will be demonstrating the reality of the message.
We need to use our fears and be courageous for the Lord, if we are to really make an impact.
Thirdly we need to adhere to the principle of,
3. DECLARING JESUS NOT OURSELVES
We should not aim to bring attention to ourselves. We are told that the only explanation the rulers and the priests could give for Peter and John was ‘Jesus’. ‘We are astonished’, they said, ‘and we note you’ve been with Jesus.’ They were left with a picture of Jesus. Peter and John pointed to Him. When God’s Peters and God’s Johns are like this Peter and this John, they will point people to their wonderful Lord not themselves.
If we are modelling the Christian life to someone we need to continually check that that person is looking to Christ and not us alone. Sure the Lord uses us to lead & teach each other, but He uses us to lead & teach each other to be fully dependant on Him and no one or nothing else.
We need to point to the Lord Jesus Christ alone if we are to have a vital, productive and disturbing experience of our Lord.
The 4th principle we find in verse 13 is that this type of Christian life is,
4. INDEPENDENT OF NATURAL ABILITIES
By that I mean, you don’t have to have the natural skills to do supernatural work. We are told in verse 13 that the rulers & the chief priests ’…saw the courage of Peter & John & realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, …’
God delights to use nobodies! If you are going to serve the Lord, by all means get the very best training and equipment. But rejoice in the fact that God can take a nobody and use him or her, just as He took Peter and John. God is not bound by your training or skill – the only qualifications you need are: Firstly, you must have your relationship restored with Him through Jesus and, secondly you must have a hunger and thirst to know Him more and be obedient to Him.
We need to rely on God, not our natural abilities if we are to experience and help others experience life to the full!
The 5th principle is that we must be prepared to,
5. SUFFER PERSECUTION FOR OUR LORD
Here, surely, is the test of the reality of our experience of Christ. When persecution comes, mere ‘religion’ will fail, but if we really know the Lord we shall stand the test.
The sixth principle is proclaimed in verse 4 and it is the principle of,
6. REAPING WHAT YOU SOW
Two Christians set on fire by the Lord can infect thousands - look at verse 4. Do you reply: ‘But things are so different today?’ Are they? What is different? Is the gospel any different? Has the Lord changed? Has man’s need altered? Is the Holy Spirit not the same today as He was then?
The only thing that’s different today is us. We are not vitally attractive, radiant Christians.
The seventh and last principle that we’ll look at this morning is the principle of
7. DOING ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD
One humble, vital, radiant Christian can bring wondrous glory to the Lord of glory! – read verse 21.
CONCLUSION
The need of the hour is for real, vital, Spirit-filled, out-and-out, attractive and radiant Christians. Are you one of these?
Will you make it your ambition to put these principle into practice.
1. To nail your colours to the mast fast,
2. be courageous,
3. present Jesus rather than yourself,
4. trust that God will provide the resources,
5. be prepared to suffer for Him if need be,
6. sow what will produce a good crop, and
7. bring glory to God in all that you do.
Will you spend time with Jesus – so that the only explanation for you is Him.
’When they saw the courage of (David) and (Ann-Maree) and realized that they were …, ordinary (people), they were astonished and …took note that they had been with Jesus.’
Let’s pray
