Looking For A Great Church
Text: Acts 4:23-33
Today, many people are searching for a great church. A great Church in the minds of many means that it is a church that has many programs and ministries that cover all ages. A great church also means having an upbeat, updated music ministry with a dynamic worship team having instrumentalists and good vocalists. A great church to many means having a spacious state of the art facility that is attractive and pleasing to the eye. A great church to many means having a dynamic pastor that can preach a good message, and a congregation of people that are outgoing, warm and friendly to first time guests. To some, a great church also means having a coffee or café area where they can gather and fellowship over a hot cup of java or cappucino.
Yes, many people are seeking out a “great church” with all or many of these features.
Did you know that God is seeking out and looking for a great church? The eyes of the Lord roam throughout our land looking for a great church. But the great church that He seeks is not one that necessarily has coffee, or state of the art, contemporary facilities, or an enormous worship team with a full scale choir and orchestra, tons of programs or even a world renown preacher.
In His eyes, the church that is great is the church that humbly and wholly acknowledges their need of Him, their dependence on His Spirit and will seek His awesome face and His mighty hand. The “great church” comes not by the works and doing of man—but is brought about by the Spirit of the Living God—and is powerfully seeing lives reached and changed by the life-changing Gospel and power of Jesus.
In Acts 4, we see a powerful example of the “great church”. This Church was great in the things of God because God was in their midst. It is my absolute conviction by the Scriptures that the “greatness” of the Acts 4 church is the same “greatness” that God would have for the 21st century church.
In this passage we will see what we desperately need if we are going to be a great church for the Kingdom of God:
1. The foundation and strength of a great Church is great prayer. (verse 31)
Verse 31 “And when they had prayed…”
The apostles endured persecution for preaching and ministering in the name of Jesus Christ. The religious Jewish leaders had threatened them and told them not to speak in His name.
When the apostles came back to be with the saints, what did they do?
Notice they did not call for a board meeting or call for a business session to talk, discuss and brainstorm a plan on how to handle the threats.
They did not ask for man’s advice.
In the midst of hardship—the Church went to prayer.
Look at verse 24 “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord…”
The Church knew that in order to persevere and stand firm against the onslaught of their enemies, they needed to approach the throne of God in prayer.
WE WOULD DO WELL TO TAKE HEED TO THEIR EXAMPLE AND FOLLOW ACCORDINGLY!!!
For we too have the same ultimate enemy, satan and his hosts of demons, that want nothing less than the Church torn and destroyed.
Our enemy comes against us with power and vicious force—and the Church needs the divine, heavenly, supernatural power of God in its midst if we are going to stand firm, move forward in the Kingdom and wage war against the forces of darkness.
The early church was great because they were a church of prayer.
It is through prayer that the awesome Presence, grace and power of God is experienced and where battles are won.
If we are going to be a great Church that will see the Spirit of God move and see lives turned from darkness to light and from death to life and discipled in Christ—then we must be a church of great prayer---Heaven- empowered, hell –shaking, wonder-working prayer.
The Lord Jesus will build His church whenever His people will seek Him and call out to Him in prayer.
Without fervent, Spirit-empowered prayer in this place—we will grow spiritually ill and eventually die. MAY WE COMMIT TO BE A PEOPLE OF PREVAILING PRAYER IN CHRIST’S NAME!!!!
2. A great Church needs a great shaking by the Presence of the Holy Spirit (verse 31).
Verse 31 “…the place where they were assembled together was shaken…”
It is obvious from these words that the Church experienced a powerful move of God in that place.
As theologian Stanley Horton comments: “After they prayed the place where they were gathered was shaken (by the Spirit, not an earthquake), indicating a mighty move of God”.
The presence of the Spirit of God moved into that place and brought about a mighty demonstration of His power, authority and grace among the believers.
CHURCH, I STRONGLY DARE TO SAY THAT WE NEED A MIGHTY SHAKING OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AMONG US!!
This shaking that came to the believers reassured them that God was indeed present with them and that He heard their prayer. He not only demonstrated His power and presence—but He accomplished a work with in their hearts and in their faith.
As John Stott writes: “They were shaken to be made more unshaken”.
There are many beautiful church buildings standing throughout our land that are absolutely void of the Presence of the Living God.
A congregation that has not the presence of the Spirit of God in their midst is a church that is lifeless, powerless, without strength and unable to stand against the attack of our eternal foe and the influences of an ungodly age. It becomes an empty organization that cannot impact lives for eternity.
When a church begins to set itself to pray and seek the Lord—in due season a mighty shaking will come—a manifestation of divine power and authority that will change hearts and lives, bring greater faith and empowerment to Gospel ministry.
A great church will have a great shaking which will in turn bring about a great witness of the gospel of Jesus.
As Steve Camp once sang “MIGHTY RUSHING WIND—BLOW THROUGH YOUR CHURCH AGAIN, OPEN HEAVEN LORD”!!!
Along with a great shaking…
3. A great church will experience a great baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Verse 31 “…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…”
The Presence of God not only demonstrated His power and might—but He also filled the apostles and all believers present with His Holy Spirit.
The believers knew that if they were to continue to preach in Jesus’ name and demonstrate signs and wonders to confirm the Word and lead people to repentance—they would need divine power to equip and enable them.
This particular moment had come well after the day of Pentecost when they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit—but it says they were “all filled with the Holy Spirit”. What does this mean?
The believers needed a fresh filling—a renewed filling of the Holy Spirit to help them, empower them and equip them to carry on the ministry of Christ.
The apostles had just endured a time of intense persecution. I believer they were tired and weary in body as well as spirit.
With new challenges, trials and opportunities, we need a fresh filling of the Spirit to empower us to face them and continue to carry on the gospel and the ministry of the Kingdom.
THE CHURCH NEEDS A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE MUST DILIGENTLY PREACH IT AGAIN—TEACH IT AGAIN—PRAY FOR IT AGAIN AND EXPERIENCE IT AGAIN!!!
IN THIS DAY WE ARE IN—THIS BAPTISM IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL AND ESSENTIAL!!!
WHY?? Jesus said in Acts 1:8 “ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…”
It is essential because we have been given a divine commission to proclaim a divine message, carry on a divine ministry—and we need divine power to fulfill this divine purpose.
We are on a mission to rescue the souls of men and women from sin and death—and we have an enemy who is fighting with deceptive and destructive power.
We must be endued with power from on high if we are going to minister in the ministry of Christ found in Isaiah 61: ***(READ ISAIAH 61:1)***
The promise of Jesus in John 14:12 holds true today: “Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father”.
To do these works of Christ—we need a powerful baptism from heaven!!
4. A great church will experience a great boldness by the Holy Spirit (vs. 31)
Verse 31 “…and they spoke the Word of God with boldness”.
God had indeed answered their prayer. What was the cry of their heart?
Verse 29: “Now Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all BOLDNESS they may speak Your Word…”
We must remember that the apostles had just been persecuted and opposed by the Jewish religious leaders. These demonically motivated and inspired “religious men” were moved to oppose and try to stop the Gospel of Christ from going forth. They commanded the apostles that they must not speak or teach in the name of Jesus—the One they condemned and had crucified.
The Lord Jesus, before He ascended back to heaven, told them in Mark 16 “go and preach the Gospel to all creation…” and in Acts 1:8 that they would be His witnesses.
What would they do? Look at their response: **READ VERSES 19-20**
They were compelled by the command of Christ and the power of the Spirit to witness of all that they had seen and heard in Christ.
So the apostles return to the other believers and begin to raise up a mighty prayer to God—asking the Lord to grant them boldness to continue preaching and ministering in the name of Jesus Christ.
THE RESULT: A MIGHTY SHAKING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT—A MIGHTY BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOW—GREAT BOLDNESS TO PREACH IN JESUS’ NAME!!!
We too face an enemy and opposition in the world to not preach the true Gospel—and because of that—we need a heaven-sent boldness.
Let’s clarify “boldness”: Boldness is not arrogance, cockiness, being brash or harsh, speaking loud or shouting, or arguing and debating, being obnoxious or self-righteous.
This “boldness” they received was a divine enablement and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God fearlessly and courageously with grace, love, sincerity and with conviction.
They spoke the Word with freedom and were not bound in fear and terror.
This was a boldness that was not concerned with man’s reaction, man’s opinion or with threat and harm.
God is looking for a great church with great boldness by His Spirit. He is seeking out servants that will live and speak with a “Jeremiah boldness”:
**READ JEREMIAH 1:17-19***
The truly “great church” in His Kingdom will be a Church where the Gospel of Jesus is preached with grace but also with no compromise.
A great church will not water down the Word or soften the message to please the crowds, but will boldly and bravely proclaim the only Gospel that can save the soul and set the captives free for eternity!!
The apostles were given great boldness to continue doing the work that Jesus called them to do—and the Church today needs that boldness to carry on the calling!!!
5. A great Church will walk together in great unity (verse 32)
**READ VERSE 32**
Where the Spirit of the Lord is—there will be unity in the Body.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:3 to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…”
Where the Holy Spirit is present in grace and power—there will be a divine unity—a unity that man cannot muster up or organize—but it will be a product of heaven itself.
He brings us into unity—and it is our responsibility to maintain that unity in our midst.
The passage says “ the multitude (or all the believers) were of ONE heart and ONE soul…”
All the believers were brought together as a community of faith and purpose in Christ.
They lived and walked in one accord. THEY WERE DIVINELY UNITED IN LOVE, FAITH, PURPOSE AND DESIRE—AND THESE WERE ALL DIRECTED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!
For many different people from different backgrounds, different personalities, different colors, different likes and dislikes and different situations to be united as one Body and live in one accord—can only be done by a work of God.
But as Scripture says “What is impossible with men is possible with God”.
Not only were they united in heart and faith and doctrine—they were united in love and lifestyle—they were truly devoted to one another.
HOW? “…neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common”.
They not only loved God—but they expressed His love by loving and looking out for one another!!! HOW MIGHTY A CHURCH WILL BE WITH THIS KIND OF JESUS LOVE!!!
SELFISHNESS, SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND SELF-AGENDA WERE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE COMPANY OF THE SAINTS THEN—NOR SHOULD THESE BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE CHURCH TODAY!!!
As Jesus people—we should follow the love and selflessness of our Lord who gave Himself for the sake of others!
If we truly want to be a great church showing a dying world that Jesus is Lord and that He is alive and the only Way, Truth and Life—then it is absolutely essential that we show ourselves as united and devoted to one another.
Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”.
And he prayed for our unity in John 17:21 “that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they may also be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me”.
People will believe that Jesus is alive and that we have the “real thing” ONLY when they see us loving and living in divine unity!!!
A truly great church will be united to let the world know that Jesus lives!!!
Division in the Church will disgrace our Lord and harden the unbelieving more!
6. A great Church will demonstrate great power (verse 33)
Verse 33 “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus”.
The great power in the early Church was not a power of man’s strength and ability, it was not human influence—in fact it was not man-made.
This power upon the Church was ‘dunamis’ power==the Greek word ‘dunamis’ meaning energy, power and might.
This was the divine power, energy and might that Jesus promised would come by His Spirit.
The church in Acts 4 was not only filled once again with the Holy Spirit—but they were provided a renewed power to continue preaching Christ and testifying of His resurrection.
THE VERY FACT THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS WERE DONE WAS PROOF THAT JESUS WAS RAISED UP AND ALIVE IN THEIR MIDST BY HIS SPIRIT!!!
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THE MODERN DAY CHURCH DESPERATELY NEEDS IS 1st CENTURY POWER IN A 21st CENTURY MINISTRY!
Acts 1:8 “And you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”.
We do not need power just for powers’ sake or for miracles’ sake—but we need it to empower us to witness and testify that Jesus is the Living Savior and Mighty Lord—that He is alive—He is still saving, healing and delivering today—and building up His Kingdom!!!
The power of the Spirit in signs and wonders will confirm that the Word is true and that Jesus is Lord and this will cause many to believe the Gospel!
**READ PAGES 160-161 in “THE CHOICE”**
In today’s Church we have much preaching and good teaching—but that is not the end in itself! The Scriptures show that God’s plan and order included preaching and power! HOW WE NEED HIS POWER AFRESH TODAY!
A church without this divine power is like a nice, wax-shined car that has no engine. Without an engine—that car will sit still with no power and will not move! Without movement—the car will only rust and deteriorate!
The Church without Holy Spirit ‘dunamis’ power will be a church that sits still, doesn’t move or go anywhere, will affect no lives and will over time deteriorate and die!!!
May we earnestly pray, cry out to and seek the Lord that He may manifest His power and authority in the Church again!! Not for our boast or our name—but that many unbelieving will be convicted and convinced to repent and turn to Jesus!
7. A great Church will be full of great grace (verse 33)
Verse 33 “…And great grace was upon them all”.
Another translation reads this as: “and divine help was given to them all abundantly”.
God’s wonderful grace was upon every believer in Christ. Every believer was saved by the grace of God—that is by His unmerited favor. Every believer was a vital part in the early church.
But the word “grace” used in this passage also refers to God’s grace operating in and through the believers by works of power.
Not only were the apostles and leaders used of God—but God’s wonder-working mighty grace was with all the believers.
In the early church, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were gifts of grace that were manifested for the building and encouraging of the Body.
They allowed the Holy Spirit to manifest and do what He desired to accomplish in order that the saints and the Kingdom would grow and advance.
Today—we need the evident grace of the Lord upon our lives and our congregation.
May we too allow the Holy Spirit to come an manifest His awesome Presence and power among us—accomplishing His will for the strength of the Body and for the ministry of the Gospel.
Let us not think that this “grace” is only for a select few or for preachers only—but His grace and power are available to all that will seek Him, believe Him and receive from Him.
God desires to equip every saint with His gifts of grace that many lives will be built up and blessing come to His Church!!!
The truly great Church will be a Church where the grace of the Lord is present and evidenced among His people—and reaching and changing lives for eternity!
