Sermon Central
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The Ministry Of The Church
Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 29, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: The ministry of the church includes signs and wonders (the easy part) and also witnessing (the hard part).
The Ministry of the Church
Acts 5:12-42
THE EASY PART: WONDERS AND SIGNS (5:12-16)
The church triumphed over Satan. They were still:
Unified (5:12)
Magnified (5:13)
Multiplied (5:14) - the first mention of women coming to salvation in Acts.
Wonders and Signs authenticated the ministry of the apostles.
Acts 14:3, 15:12, Romans 15:18-19, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:4
God used wonders and signs to point the people to the gospel message. He was saying: “Follow these people.”
Many will come for the wonders and signs. “crowds” and “multitudes”
The faithful stay for the ministry. “apostles”
QUESTION: Are there still wonders and signs today?
There are no “signs” of an apostle today.
One of the qualifications of the apostle is that he had seen the risen Christ.
(Acts 1:22, 1 Corinthians 9:1)
The apostles and prophets laid the foundation for the church. (Ephesians 2:20)
If there are no apostles, there can be no “signs of an apostle.”
(Mark 16:17-20, 2 Corinthians 12:12)
Signs can also be by Satan for His purposes.
(2 Thessalonians 2:9, Revelation 13:13-14, 16:14, 19:20)
God still works wonders (miracles). However, the need for confirming miracles has passed.
We have the Word of God and we test teachers by their message, not their miracles.
(Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:13-14, 1 John 2:18-19, 4:1-3)
Preaching the gospel saves the lost, not miracles. (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23)
THE HARD PART: WITNESSING (5:17-42)
Numerically impossible 120 disciples (probably 30 could witness)
Financially impossible Only about $5000 on hand for their work
Legally impossible “Not to teach in His name”
Logistically impossible Acts 1:8 is not consecutive but concurrent witness
The Jews questioned their mission. (5:17-28, 33)
Yet, God provided a “man of peace” in the midst of the persecution. (5:34-39)
The Jews physically persecuted them. (5:40)
Persecution increased the witnessing of the disciples, which multiplied the number of disciples. (5:42-6:1)
God never requires the impossible from us. God requires that we do what He tells us.
