The Danger Of Being At Church And Not In Church

The Danger Of Being

Church At And Not In Church

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. Acts 3:1-6

Rev. McClinton Hall

My brothers and sisters, after having read this portion of scripture, I don’t know how much time had lapse between the events of Acts chapter two and the occurrences of Acts chapter three. I don’t know how wide was the time gap between the closing events of Acts chapter two and opening events of Acts chapter three. In Acts chapter two, the Holy Ghost have fallen upon the church. In Acts chapter two, the Day of Pentecost was fully come. In Acts chapter two, the Disciples and others from across the earth were gathered together when came into the building a mighty rushing wind. In Acts chapter two, there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire and fell upon each one of them. In Acts chapter two, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. In Acts chapter two, they became loud in their spiritual response. In Acts chapter two, they were falsely accused and falsely evaluated, saying, “These men must be drunk with new wine. Is that right?

But oh brothers and sisters, in Acts chapter two, there was one who had faded into the background. There was one who had denied knowing and being with Jesus is now filled with the Holy Ghost and speaks out boldly in Acts chapter two. He preaches a sermon and says, no they are not drunk as you suppose. He goes on the preach about the prophesy of the Old Testament by saying that in the last days, God will pour out His spirit upon all flesh. In Acts chapter two, after that sermon was preached, some three thousand souls were added to the church. All of that happen in Acts chapter two. In Acts chapter two the multitude is gather together rejoicing, shouting and praising God. But oh brothers and sisters in Acts chapter three, the excitement has died down. Are you going to pray with me? In Acts chapter three, the crowd has dwindled away. In Acts chapter two, a large crowd was present. Three thousand converts was as one for the cause of Christ. But in Acts chapter three, we just see two men walking together, by the name of Peter and John. Oh my brothers and sisters, I think I ought to tell you that there are some folk in the crowd are only there for the excitement. Some folk in the crowd are only there for the fact that it is different. They are there because the church has a new pastor. Not everybody in the crowd will last. Are you going to pray with me? Now it don’t make any difference to me if you say amen or not, because I’m bound and determined to preach. I’m going to preach just hard without you saying amen. I’ve learned to preach in season and out of season. I’ve learned to preach when you are running down the isle and I’ve learned to preach when you got icicles hanging on you. Can I get a witness? You understand. In Acts chapter three, there is only two men. Oh what a change has now taken place. There’s nobody now but Peter and John who are walking through the market place. You got to understand that Peter and John really didn’t have any great friendship with each in Acts chapter two. But now Peter and John were walking together.

Before the events of Acts chapter two, both seem to irritate each. They were so different in their personality, that one seem to get on the nerves of the other. Somebody knows about getting on folk nerve. You see Peter was a protester, but John believed in peaceful means of working out ones problems. Peter believed that violence was the answer to any problem, but John believed that talking it out was the best way. So they both irritated each, but that was before the Holy Ghost fell. And now after the Holy Ghost fell in Acts chapter two, by the time we get to Acts chapter three, they are walking together. Pray with me if you will. My brothers and sisters, you ought to know that the Holy Ghost will put us together. The Holy Ghost will make us be as one. Peter and John are now working together as a team. Oh brothers and sisters, I think I ought to tell you that church work is not a one man job. Church work is team work. What you got to understand is that you’re not the whole show.