Avoiding Costly Mistakes - Satisfaction
Acts 1:8; 8:1
Pastor Don Jones
West Glendale Baptist Church
The mission of the church was given to the disciples in Acts 1:8.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Very simply Jesus gave them the future scenario of how they were to make disciples. He said in Matthew 28:
Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
The Church was to go and make disciples. The word of command in verse 19 is "make" disciples. This was the imperative in the command of Jesus. The church in both verses was to receive power from the Spirit to carry out this mission. It seemed logical. Here’s the mission, here’s the places you are to carry it out, and, you will receive my authority and power from the Spirit to do this task. In hind sight it almost seems too simple but as most of us know, nothing is as simple as it sounds.
The Power came at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon the believers in a rush of wind and anointing of fire and a powerful testimony was given about Jesus and His saving grace. Scripture tells us that on that day about 3,000 were saved and baptized. What a start to the mission of the church. Scripture continues to tell of us the remarkable works of God performed in the Jerusalem area. But something occurred in Acts 8 that gives us a warning today. It says,
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
The church came under great persecution on the day that Stephen was stoned. Why? They were doing so well. They had great successes in Jerusalem. The seeds were being planted and the harvest was great. So why the great persecution? Look at where they went. They were driven to Judea and Samaria. I think it is interesting that the verse begins with mention of Saul who later became Paul the great witness to the utter most parts of the world.
The church had gotten comfortable in the city of Jerusalem. Acts 2:47 says,
enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
There was no great opposition to what was going on. They were simply enjoying blessings from God, the salvations that were taking place and the blessings from the people and in the process they were neglecting their mission. I am sure the gospel would have wound up being another sect to Judaism centralized in Jerusalem had the persecution not taken place. They had gotten too comfortable in Jerusalem, so God turned up the heat.
I heard of a unique science experiment that had taken place on time. A student, a boy student most likely took his pet frog, the one used to scare all of the girls and put him in a pan of water over a Bunsen burner. The water was nice and cozy for the frog. Gradually the little boy turned up the heat. Te water became hotter and hotter but the frog did not move. He was comfy and cozy and because the rise in heat was gradual he didn’t feel the ever increasing temperature. The water eventually became so hot that the frog literally cooked to death without even moving from the same spot in the pan.
The church at Jerusalem was getting a little too cozy so God abruptly turned up the heat so the people fled the persecution. I fear that our churches are getting cozy. We live in a country that allows us to witness without persecution. Yes, we have some persecution but nothing to worry about. We can be comfortable.
C.S. Lewis tells in the Screwtape Letters the story of Screwtape, a minor demon. Screw tape approaches Wormwod, his "boss" and tells him of his woes. He is trying to cause a man of God to sin. He has offered him all kinds of temptations, great wealth, great power, and great pleasure beyond his wildest dreams. The wise old man had refused each and every temptation much the same way that Jesus refused His temptations. Finally, Wormwood gives him the key. He simply tells him, go and make him comfortable and the old man will become ineffective.
C. S. Lewis must have read Acts 8. So what are the signs of comfort? Let me list a few and give a solution.
The first sign is, there are no problems or challenges. I remember that our first church took over the building of another prominent church that had moved. Westcor, a major builder, had purchased it from this other church. It was a great deal. The church sold the property for a little over 12 million and they were given a new church at another location. A new church building, designed to their specifications, education space for 500, 5 acres of land, and 12 million in the bank; Problem solved right? Wrong. That is when the problems began.
They had no challenges to bind them together. They were the epitome of a fat cat. Everything had been handed to them on a silver platter. Much lime the Jerusalem church, they forgot their primary mission and rested on their great accomplishments. People began to argue and fight and at one point it was a toss up whether they would even survive. Prosperity had caused them to turn to themselves and forget about Jesus. Like the church at Ephesus they forgot their first love.
I am not saying go cause a problem in our church for the sake of strife, but I am saying if you are comfortable you need to look carefully at what you are doing. If you are resting on your past accomplishment, if you are satisfied with what you have already done or already learned, it is time to get moving.
Second, do you attend Bible study? Paul says,
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
Paul continued to learn and grow in Christ. His desire was to "know" Christ fully and the "power of His resurrection". Do you really want others to believe you have learned all there is to learn about God? When you say you don’t need to go to Bible study that is what you are saying. Do you even believe that? I trust you are not that arrogant, but if you are, you need to receive Jesus as Lord of your life.
Third, do the same people always do the work in the church? Statistics say 20% of the people do 80% of the work. That is not biblical. All of us have our ministry and should continue to do what God has placed before us. But we need reinforcements. We have 100 bodies here on a regular basis but we don’t have 100 workers. I firmly believe that God has gifted by His Spirit every believer. Those of you who come on Wed. night know this truth. I Corinthians 12:7 says,
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Paul tells us each believer has the manifestation of the Spirit to use for the common good. To put it another way, God has given to believers in Jesus Christ a gift that will help build up the church.
Most of us know that the image of the church in the New Testament is that of a body. We have hands, eyes, ears, feet, and all other parts to make us a complete body. As I thought of this image this past week and applied it to many of the churches I have known and know, a picture came to mind. If I were drawing this body I would have to add a great deal to the "posterior" of the body. In other words, our body would have a big rear to represent the average 80% that do not become actively involved in the life of the church.
If you are not involved, get involved. If you are involved keep exercising that one gift for the good of the body so we might become stronger. So many have to give up their one gift focus and fill in those who are unwilling to use their gifts.
Finally, have you witnessed to anyone in the last week, month, year, or decade? Are you afraid you will have to make room for someone beside you? You know who you are. Your particular pew has the correct indentation for your backside. Heaven forbid someone would sit there and ruin the "fit". You come each week and snuggle in to that one spot that is yours. The problem becomes a problem when we like the size we are and comfort level and are unwilling to reach out to other for fear of change. This church is not ours, it is God’s. We must carry out His will or he might find someone who will replace us.
Simply, the solution to all of these dangers is to begin to reach out in your home, neighborhood, work, etc. Forget about rejection and take a risk. Your Jerusalem would be your own home. Do you need to witness in your own family? If so, get started by planting the seed by word and deed. Your Judea would be your neighborhood. Have you contacted and reached out to your neighbors? Begin to make friends with your neighbors. You might find you enjoy the experience. Your Samaria would be your job or school. Begin to reach out to your co-workers and even your bosses and tell them about Jesus. Is it a risk? Of course it is but they can’t eat you, can they? Finally, begin to actively reach out to those around you. Don’t be satisfied.
Think you are not qualified? Did you remember the first part of Acts 8:1? The young man that was holding the cloaks was the main disciple who carried the gospel to the "utter most" parts of the earth. His name was Saul who after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus became Paul the apostle. Have you met Jesus?
Invitation
Outline
Avoiding Costly Mistakes - Satisfaction 10-1-2006
Acts 1:8; 8:1 WGBC
1. The Plan of God for the Church
• Make disciples - commanded
• Jerusalem, Judea., Samaria, utter most parts
• Holy Spirit powered - Acts 2:1ff
2. Costly mistake of satisfaction 8:1
• Persecution came upon the church
• They got comfortable, not contented - Acts 2:47
• We like things the way they are
• If a body of Christ, many would be the "butt"
3. Avoiding the costly mistake
• Don’t wait for persecution
• Be warned and wary of comfort and satisfaction
• Challenge yourself if you are comfortable
• Attend Bible study - Phil. 3:12-14
• Use your gift in the church to build others
• Actively witness at home, neighborhood, and work
• Keep reaching out
