THE GOD PLEASING LIFE
Acts 2:42-47
INTRODUCTION:
A. One of the best known phrases in Christendom is from the Westminster Catechism “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him for ever!”
1. What a wonderful thought, isn’t it
2. It is a thought John Piper really brings to light in his book Don’t Waste Your Life – which I would encourage all of to read.
- In it he states: “God created me – and you – to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion – namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all spheres of life.” (p. 31)
3. God’s desire for us is that we glorify Him and enjoy that occupation.
4. Paul lived this way and that is why he could write According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:20-21
B. The life of the Christian is to be so interwoven with Christ that the two cannot be distinguished from one another.
1. We, who are His children, are to be living for Him – He is to be our life!
2. And if that is so then the family of God becomes very important!
3. And our local family is the church! Not the building but the body!
C. Do we want to be the type of church that would glorify God and enjoy Him forever? A church that God would be pleased with?
1. I would hope we would all say YES.
a. What would that take?
b. What would that look like?
c. What would happen if we were?
2. Maybe this morning we can answer these questions.
D. Our text is Acts 2:42-47 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1. There are two things I want to bring to our attention
a. The Believer’s Life
b. The Bigger Consideration
2. May we learn to live as the Lord desires us to thereby bringing Him glory and ourselves joy!
PRAY
As we seek to glorify God& enjoy Him forever we must start with our relationship with him, thus we need to look at
I. THE BELIEVER’S LIFE, Acts 2:42-45 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Before we get into the particulars I want us to look at
A. An Over Arching Principle - …they continued stedfastly…
1. Steve May preached a series of sermons entitled “Radical Christianity”
a. In his introduction he said, “Christianity is not for wimps.”
b. Something I would have to agree with.
2. In writing of the new church Luke said …they continued steadfastly…
3. They were hanging in there against all odds
4. The scriptures tell us that things will not be easy for we are in a war thus we are exhorted to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 2:3
5. And Paul told the Corinthians be stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58
6. As we look at the Particulars of the Christian life in just a moment realize that we are to continue steadfastly in them, even unto death!
B. The Life Stabilizing Particulars
1. They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine
a. This means they stayed in the word!
b. They had the Jewish Scriptures and the first hand accounts of the apostles and they were eager to learn all they could.
c. They did not want just a little bit or spend just a little time
d. They learned the word and then kept the word
1) Hearing it is not enough (look at James 1:22-23 & Prov 1:25-33)
2) We must hear and do – steadfastly!
e. This takes discipline
2. They continued steadfastly in fellowship
a. The Greek word is koi-nohn-ee-a (koinonia) and literally means to take part with, to participate with, or to distribute
b. The idea is much more than sitting around a table eating and talking, it is that each did their part so others did not have to take the brunt!
c. This takes commitment
3. They continued steadfastly in breaking of bread
a. This could mean just in meals or it could have the added value of the Lord’s supper – I believe it was both
b. The center of life was the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially the cross.
c. They never wanted to forget or quit celebrating what the Lord had done for them – they steadfastly worshipped the Lord
d. This takes dedication
4. They continued steadfastly in prayer
a. Oh how we need this type of praying in our lives today!
b. God said we have not because we ask not!(James 4:2)
c. Missions, ministry, salvations, and revival are born in prayer!
d. This takes persistence.
5. And as a result they continued steadfastly in the fear of the Lord
a. When Luke writes and fear came upon every soul, he was not talking about dread or a cowering emotion, he was talk about a reverence of God so strong that there was an awe about God!
b. We need more of this in our lives today as well
c. We seem to think that God is just a genie that is supposed to spring from a bottle when we get some whim or get into some trouble
d. We need to see God for who He is: the all mighty, all seeing, ever present God who made the universe and holds us in His hands!
e. And look to see Him do marvelous things in our midst!
f. This requires humility
C. Can you imagine what the Lord could do with us, if each of us continued steadfastly in our life with God?
1. If you and I were disciplined, committed, dedicated, persistent and humbled before the Lord?
2. We would have joy in the Lord!
3. Our homes would be havens of rest!
4. We could shout with Paul, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and really mean it! Romans 8:38-39
But this is just the beginning because there is
II. A BIGGER CONSIDERATION, Acts 2:44-47 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A. I want us to leave the idea of “one” behind and move to the bigger consideration – the many, the church!
1. Notice the words - …all that believed were together, and had all things common… and …continuing daily with one accord in the temple….
2. There was a sense of community about those in the first century church
3. They wanted to be together, celebrate life together, worship together – in a sense their lives revolved around God and each other!
4. Their lives focused on the eternal.
B. Folks, if the church is going to have an impact on the world then the world is going to have to see that the church is important to those who are a part of it!
1. Why do you think the schools now put activities on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons?
a. Because they know they can get away with it
b. For most people, if the choice comes down to keeping their children out of something because of “church” activities or putting them in it at the expense of church activities, the later is going to win
c. And the sad thing is the schools know it!
2. There was a time in our history when the church members wanted to be with church members
3. But now, it seems, we look for any excuse not to be with them or here
C. Now I know the Argument, “I don’t have to go to church or be involved in the church to be a good Christian or to be right with God.”
1. Its an argument, but based on faulty thinking and lack of biblical truth.
2. The writer of Hebrews penned these words in Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
D. In light of this we need to continue steadfastly in the word, fellowship, worship, prayer and fear of the Lord in both a personal way and corporate way.
1. We need to be here for each other
a. Encouraging each other in the word, supporting each other by carrying each others burden, worshipping the Lord with each other, praying with and for each other
b. We need to be experiencing the fear & glory of God with each other.
c. And Praising God with each other.
2. When this takes place two things will happen
a. The church will have favor with all people
b. The Lord will add to the church daily such as should be saved!
E. If you’re a member of FBC you’ve given your life to Christ and His church
1. We have made a covenant with each other
2. We are to order our personal lives and our corporate life around Jesus Christ – not ourselves
3. This is the God Pleasing Life.
CONCLUSION:
A. Folks, the body of Christ, the church, needs each of us to be active in the service of God
B. This is Christ’s desire for us for He said in Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
C. Let’s be the person God wants us to be and let’s be the church that God wants us to be.
D. What do you need to do this morning in order to be living the God Pleasing Life?
