Shaking Up The Church Series

Series: Action [#9]

SHAKING UP THE CHURCH

Acts 4:23-37

Introduction:

What the Church needs sometimes is a good shaking; and I believe that has happened. When we become too comfortable with the way we do things, we become complacent. Comfortable sounds good, but comfort usually turns into laziness. As I said last week, it’s not if but when we are going to be persecuted. It’s not the fact that it’s going to happen, but in how we respond. I want us to notice the Church’s response and God’s response.

Acts 4:23

Notice how…

1. The Church responded.

Acts 4:24-30

The Church responded by…

^ Praying.

Listen to their prayer. They acknowledged that God is in control. They acknowledged that God created everything. They acknowledged that God knows all.

The Church responded by…

^ Recalling Scripture.

They recalled how God spoke through David about how people would treat the Messiah. They also told about the fulfilling of this prophecy.

The Church responded by…

^ Speaking the Word boldly.

We need to notice what they asked God to do in verse 29. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” They didn’t ask God to keep them from persecution. They didn’t ask God to hide them. They asked God for boldness in speaking His Word.

Notice how…

2. God responded.

Acts 4:31-37

God responded by…

^ Filling them with the Holy Spirit.

The place where they were meeting, shook. They were filled, (overflowing) with the Holy Spirit. I have had people ask me if this was a physical shaking or a spiritual shaking- Both. This is part of our problem- We want to limit what God can do. When God’s people are filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no limit to what can happen.

God responded by…

^ Giving them boldness.

They didn’t just have boldness against the government and religious leaders; they had a boldness in speaking the Word of God. I want each of us to think about this. Yes, we have been standing against our Governor’s decisions. Yes, we have been standing against some stores being able to be open and others not. Yes, we have been standing against not being able to meet in our buildings. But, have you been bold in speaking the Word of God? It’s one thing to criticize and complain about things; but when you allow the Word of God to do the talking, God gets the glory and honor for the victories.

God responded by…

^ Making them one.

This can be the product of a shaking- Unity. This unity wasn’t just in encouraging words- It was financial. They gave of what they had in order to help others. When God says that He will supply all of our needs according to His glorious riches; sometimes He does that through other believers. Our passage says that there were no needy people among them.

During this Covid-19 pandemic, I believe that we have missed one another greatly. Yes, we have talked on the phone. Yes, you could watch the sermon online. But not getting to fellowship together in this building has been difficult.

Conclusion:

I believe that the Church has been shaken. Have we responded in a way that pleases God? A Church that is focused on prayer, Scripture, and telling others about Jesus will always be strong.