Things haven’t changed

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."
Acts 4:14-17

These verses are “telling” about how non-believers refuse to believe what they can plainly see. The disabled man was healed. The religionists could not deny that reality. But because they were not about to believe in Jesus, by whom this miracle was accomplished, they conspired to attack Jesus’ disciples.

Things haven’t changed.

Lives changed by Jesus are still a convincing evidence of the power of Christ and the gospel. When people are truly saved, their lives are changed and non-believing onlookers can see it.(1) Of course, Christ and the gospel are not true because of changed lives. The truth about Christ and the gospel is true because it is true! But changed lives have always been and will always be powerful evidence of the truth.

Because some are steeled in their resolve to reject Christ and the gospel—despite evidence—those who are particularly antagonistic attack the Lord’s people. In some cases this attack goes no further than ridicule. This is about all we face in America. However, in many other places in the world, followers of Jesus are persecuted. Many severely. Some are even martyred.

This is an age old tactic employed by those who have no legitimate defense of their position. They can’t argue the facts, so they attack the people whose position they oppose.

This does no more to stop Christ and the gospel today than it did in the early days recorded in Acts.

• Let us not be surprised by attacks from the unbelieving world—even when they come from non-believing friends and loved ones.

• Let us speak and live the truth while never attacking the people who oppose us.

• Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer serious persecution, especially as we currently are fortunate not to.(2)

• Let us pray for the persecutors. As God saved Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9), and made him the Apostle Paul, may God be pleased to show the same mercy to those who, because they hate Him, hate His people.

Footnotes:
(1) Satan loves it when non-believers profess faith in Christ and continue to live in sin. This calls the credibility of those whose lives are truly changed into question. This is why the Church must not pretend that those whose lives deny their profession of faith are truly believers.
(2) We in America do not currently suffer much in the way of persecution, but along with many others, I fear it is coming, maybe sooner than we might think!

The church needs to insist that pastors are trained adequately

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13

Three observations and a bonus:

First, Peter and John were bold, and it showed. When we are born again, filled with the Spirit, convinced of the truth of the gospel, and of people’s dire need to hear the message of Christ, we can be bold. Granted, some are more temperamentally bold and some more timid. But the holy boldness we need to proclaim the gospel comes from the Spirit of God, not personality. Let us pray for holy boldness.

Second, Peter and John had been with Jesus, and it showed. The religious leaders marveled at how bold well-spoken the disciples were. This was especially unsettling to the religionists because they believed the disciples were “uneducated and untrained men.” They believed the only education and training that mattered was the kind they had received. And what did that kind of training yield? It produced self-righteous religious hypocrites!

Third, Peter and John had been educated and trained—by Jesus, and it showed. It is a serious mistake to say theological training is not important for those who serve in the ministry. A lack of training is the fountainhead from which false doctrine flows into the church. Strictly by God’s grace, as a young pastor in my 20s, I realized that I needed more theological training. It was a slow process because I was already a pastor and a father, raising three children. But I am convinced that the formal training I received, resulting in a Masters degree in Church History and a Doctorate in Theology, continues to be invaluable.

The religionists didn’t believe that “being with Jesus” for three-plus years was far more valuable than the training they received. But since no one before or since has had the unique opportunity to live with Jesus for three years, the Church needs to insist that pastors are trained adequately—which at least means Bible college and at best, seminary.

An important footnote: Sadly, there are more seminaries in America at which the training one receives is more detrimental than those at which the training is beneficial. This blog is not the forum to go into the difference, but believe me when I say, (a) pastors need training, and (b) from solidly biblical schools.

We must be saved

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12

Salvation. Every human being needs salvation. From What? From sin—both the penalty and power of sin. Salvation from Who? From God and from His wrath. Salvation is from God’s wrath into His love. All people need this salvation, for without it, an eternity of damnation is an unimaginably long and terrible time.

Salvation in no other. Jesus, and only Jesus, can save. Salvation must come from God for no one but God is worthy. Salvation must be paid for by a man who can die, since God cannot die. Salvation must come from the one and only God-man, Jesus, who, being God and man, can alone mediate perfectly between God and man.

No other name under Heaven. There are virtually numberless places to which people look for ultimate purpose, meaning, fulfillment, and satisfaction. People, family, religion, money, power, education, entertainment, popularity, leisure, sex, drugs, alcohol, food—need I continue? None can satisfy perfectly even in this life, much less for eternity. There is One, however: Jesus, who not only “satisfies,” but “saves!”

We must be saved. Those who are not saved are lost. Those who are not rescued from sin, death and Hell, into the love of God in Christ, really will die and go to Hell because of their sin. Oh how we must be saved! And Oh, how we must pray for our unsaved loved ones who must also be saved!

Answering those who ask…

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Acts 4:7-10

Three observations to consider:

First, the question posed by the religious leaders. Were they genuinely seeking to understand? Maybe, but I sincerely doubt it. It is far more likely that the question "By what power or by what name have you done this?" was intended to get Peter to either, (a) admit to being in league with some nefarious power, or (b) align himself with that previously executed “outlaw,” Jesus of Nazareth. These religious power brokers hoped that Peter’s answer would give them justifiable cause to do away with the disciples. Let us, therefore, be wise in discerning the intent of people’s questions.

Second, Peter deflected attention away from himself (as though he had power to heal the sick). Instead, as always, Peter pointed his examiners to Jesus. Let us always point people to Christ, not to ourselves, our experience, our church, our favorite preacher—and most certainly not to our political preferences.

Third, Peter affirmed that the man whose healing was under scrutiny was really healed. The fact of the matter regarding Jesus is that He really does save His people. Saved people and their changed lives are tangible evidence of the power of Christ and the gospel. Given this evidence—and we had better be sure that our lives are changed and changing in order to provide such evidence—we can leave people to either become disciples, or deniers of Christ. Then they will have to answer God (not us) for their decision.

The world is less and less favorable toward the Church

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Acts 4:1-4

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” That quote, attributed to the early Church father, Tertullian (AD 160-225), captures and conveys what is ironically counter-intuitive. Don’t movements, and indeed kingdoms, thrive most in times of prosperity? In the world, usually.* But Jesus’ kingdom “is not of this world” (John 18:36). And Christ’s “other-world” kingdom operates and progresses by heavenly principles.

Think about it. Abel, not Cain, was approved by God. Joseph’s life of suffering led to the salvation of his people. Overlooked David was chosen to be king. Jesus came as a suffering Servant instead of as the longed-for conquering king. Jesus said that “the first would be last and the last first” (Matthew 20:16), and, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). He defeated sin, death, Hell, and the devil by dying, and it was only by dying that He would rise. Paul said that “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

Let us not suppose that when the Church is experiencing worldly wealth and success, she is strongest or even truly growing. While we would be foolish to seek suffering and or persecution, if we are truly “desiring to live godly lives in Christ Jesus,” persecution will providentially find us! (2 Timothy 3:12).

The Church seems to experience her greatest spiritual—and often even numerical growth—in times of persecution. Let us bear this in mind in these days in which the world is less and less favorable toward the Church. And let us not be surprised or disheartened. After all, didn’t our Lord tell us that the world hates us because it hates Him!?

*Sometimes, even in the world, prosperity is the beginning of the end due to feelings of prideful invincibility, which God often soon crushes.

Essential ingredients of the message

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Acts 3:13-15 (If you have a moment, read the rest of this short sermon through verse 26.)

This is the second sermon Peter preached (the first being on Pentecost in chapter 2). Notice the following essential ingredients of the message:

Peter referred to scripture, mentioning the patriarchs, Moses, and Samuel. The faith didn’t begin when we were saved. God has always had His people. Anchoring what we say in scripture is essential.

Peter spoke about Christ. Numerous times, in fact. I particularly love how Peter quoted God’s promise through Moses about a greater Deliverer than Moses, who was to come—and He (Jesus) has come! All our preaching (and witnessing) must be about Christ. It is not about us, our experience, or our favorite preacher, much less politics! Our message is the Man, Christ Jesus.

Peter spoke about sin. He told the people that they were responsible for Christ’s death. Many of those people in Jerusalem at that time may have been directly responsible if they were in the crowd that cried out “Crucify Him!” The reality is, however, all people are responsible for Christ’s death because of our sin. (“All people” includes us! We don’t want to say “you are a sinner,” but rather “we are all sinners!” lest we come across as self-righteous.) Unless people know of their sin, they will never cry out to God for forgiveness. And forgiveness is what people need—more than anything else in the world! And praise God, that is what Jesus came to purchase with His blood to save those He came to save.

Let us never preach a Christless Christianity, disconnected from scripture, that avoids the awful reality of our sin. These are essential ingredients of the message of the good news of forgiveness.

If you want to know if you have a servant’s heart...

And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
Acts 3:12

Yesterday’s post was about how to praise God as we encourage those He uses in our lives in such a way that God, not the person, gets the glory. Today let’s approach the same topic addressing those God uses (and I hope that includes all who serve God by serving His people).

“I give and I give. I never ask for anything in return, and this is the thanks I get!” That is a rather exaggerated example of wanting recognition for what we do. It is a natural reaction to never being acknowledged. But if we are serving God, our service never goes unnoticed! He always sees! And He will reward His servants. Of course in addition to seeing what we do, He also sees the attitudes with which we do what we do. Yikes!

I frequently pray for those in our church who do “behind the scenes ministries”—things that are seldom, if ever, noticed. Unnoticed, that is, unless they aren’t done! Few think about the fact that the restrooms are cleaned, the bulletins are printed and folded, the coffee is prepared, the doors are unlocked, and are also locked when everyone leaves. My prayer is always that those who serve in these “invisible” ways would do what they do as an act of worship to the Lord.

It is nice to be acknowledged, but if we do what we do to be acknowledged by people—didn’t Jesus address that when speaking about giving, prayer, and fasting (Matthew 6:1-18)? Didn’t He say that the reward we seek from people is all the reward we shall receive?

Let us do what we do as acts of worship to the Lord. Then it won’t matter if people see us or give us thanks.

Because we do receive acknowledgment for our services from time to time, let us respond graciously, while deflecting any adulation, by praising the Lord. When complimented for service, we can say something like: “I praise God that He blessed you by what He allowed me do.” Or: “I am thankful to be used by the Lord in that way.”

And lastly, when we don’t get acknowledged, remember these words a wise man (Gayle Erwin) once said: “If you want to know if you have a servant’s heart, see how you react when someone treats you like one.”

How to thank the Master, and encourage His servants

And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
Acts 3:12

There is a lesson here that goes way beyond miracle healings. A great danger is lurking when people look to those God uses, instead of to God Himself. When the people who were aware of the healing of the disabled man, and apparently attributed the miracle to Peter and John, Peter was quick to correct this grave error.

We must never look at the people God uses as anything other than instruments in God’s hands. As a hammer cannot drive a nail by itself unless it is in the hands of a carpenter, neither can any human being perform miracles—or any other meaningful ministry, unless the Lord is doing the work. All ministry, from a great sermon that spoke to your heart, to a simple act of kindness, is primarily a work of God’s grace. It is only secondarily a work of the person who performed the service.

Our first and deepest thanks must go to God. If it doesn’t, we rob God of His glory and make an idol out of His servants. In addition, we tempt the Lord’s servant to take credit that belongs only to God.

When we give too much credit to the servant instead of to the Lord, and that servant makes a misstep or lets us down, we are then tempted to blame God. How many have forsaken Christ’s Church because of the sins of God’s servants? This happens because people’s eyes are on the servant instead where they belong: on the Master!

It is not wrong to encourage God’s servants. But not by telling them how great they are, or even how much we appreciate them. Rather, encourage God’s servants by praising God. Try saying saying something like, “I’m praising the Lord because of how He blessed (or encouraged) me through the gift (act of kindness, or sermon) He delivered.”

Do you see how the focus is on the Lord and the action performed —not the person as anything more than the Lord’s servant-messenger? The Lord will be rightly praised and honored, and the true servants of God will be encouraged by this while not being tempted to take the credit.

The greatest miracle, barring none!

So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Acts 3:8-9

The disabled man was healed >>by the power of God, >>working through the Apostle Peter, >>in the name of Jesus Christ. Note the following about supernatural healings:

• When God heals it is complete, unlike the self-proclaimed “healing-hucksters.” Many attend their meetings, very few receive “healings,” and even those are still impaired by whatever malady they arrived with. This man didn’t throw his crutches down and hobble away. He was was “walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

• While God can (and sometimes does) physically heal people today, whether by medicine or miracle, the greatest miracle is raising the dead. And the miracle we love most is when Jesus raises the spiritually dead to life. It is called salvation.

The same results should be seen spiritually as were seen in the case of the physically disabled man in Acts 3.

• When we are forgiven, we are completely forgiven, We are no longer under any condemnation or bondage to sin.

• When we are forgiven, we are enabled to do what we could not do before we were forgiven, namely: say “No” to sin! Did you catch that? We are freed not only from sin’s condemnation, but from bondage to sin. We still struggle with sin, but when we are saved, we are no longer slaves to sin.

• When we are forgiven, we not only have reason to praise God, we do praise God. After all, we have been rescued from sin, death, Hell, and the devil—and can at last do what we were created for: to praise God!

• When we are forgiven, our lives become a testimony to others, who, if they too will respond to Christ and the gospel, will likewise be saved. And once saved, they too will join the ranks of those who praise the Lord.

Compare that to being healed physically. While that is indeed a blessing that affords us much to be thankful for, those who are healed physically will get sick and and will all die someday. Those who are saved, are saved forever!

Wholeness, but not healing

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
Acts 3:4-6

We cannot offer healing, but we can offer spiritual wholeness.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is about forgiveness of sin. It is about salvation. It is a misreading of scripture to attach physical healing to that gospel, as though physical healing is also guaranteed. Passages like Isaiah 53, in which words about healing are used symbolically, refer to spiritual healing, not physical healing.

If the saving work of Christ guarantees physical healing alongside of spiritual salvation, then one of two things must be true. First, either Christians would be 100% physically healthy and never die, just as we are 100% forgiven and never condemned. Or second, since Christians do get sick and die physically, we have no assurance that our sins are forgiven either.

But what about Jesus’ healing ministry, and the healings recorded in the book of Acts through the ministry of the Apostles? Physical healings are due to the compassion of God, but that doesn’t mean that we can perform healings, or that all believers can expect to always be healed, much less claim such healings.

Can God still heal? Of course. And He does—sometimes. Sometimes God heals by miracle, and sometimes by medicine, but He does not always heal.

The good news is that He always saves those who confess their sins and cry out to God for forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

The gospel does not guarantee physical healing, but it does guarantee spiritual salvation and wholeness.

Lifting people up to Christ

Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:6-7

Two thoughts to consider.

First, when the church had no silver and gold, they knew they had no silver and gold. They didn’t depend on silver and gold. And they didn’t offer what silver and gold can buy. Fast forward to 2020. While most churches still have neither silver or gold, others possess enormous wealth, and operate in opulence. No names, but from a “church” on which the “vicar of Christ” sits on a throne surrounded by vast wealth, to some media ministries whose leaders’s are multi-millionaires, some sectors of the “church” certainly have lots of silver and gold. But in some cases, they have very little in the way of Christ and the gospel.

Second, not only did Peter speak healing to the disabled man (as only Christ and the Apostles could effectively do), he extended a hand to help the man stand and walk. As Christians, individually and corporately, we do well to assist those in need. But we generally do people no favors if we aim to give “a hand out, instead of a hand up.” Let us lift people up to Christ (through prayer, evangelism, and other practical assistance) even though we can not lift them out of all their problems.

The church irreplaceable

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18

You deserve a break from me!

I read an article about "Church & COVID-19" that I thoroughly enjoyed and I wanted to encourage you to read it. It is from "Desiring God Ministries" (John Piper), though Dr. Piper didn't write it.

To read the article at the "Desiring God" website... Click Here

The article is a little longer than what I write, but it is well worth your time…

May we long for the body of Christ to be fully engaged in corporate worship again!
Errol

“Did you get one of these yet?”

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
Acts 3:4-6

Some thoughts about handing out tracts:

Make sure you have tracts readily available in your purse or pocket.

Make sure they contain the gospel (anything from “Living Waters” http://store.livingwaters.com/gospel-tracts.html), or those we will put in the bulletins from time to time).

Stop and ask, “Did you get one of these yet?”—holding it out for the person to take.

If the person takes it, encourage him or her to read it before the day is over.

If the person does not take it—or even if he or she is rude to you: Don’t take offense or become defensive. People are not rejecting us, but our Lord. Say, “Thanks for your time. I’ll pray for you. Have a great day.” (Then don’t neglect to pray!) Leave the person in a way that he or she will remember that a Christian was nice and smiled at him or her.

If the person asks, “What is it?” answer, “The best news in the world.” If he or she wants to talk more, and if you can, talk to the person.

If you end up talking: do not get side tracked on unimportant side issues (politics, science, or other debatable issues); stick with the Christ and gospel.

Pray for opportunities and that God will use you. He will!

An important footnote: Never leave a tract instead of a tip! ;-)

Whether we can give them food or not, we must give them Jesus

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
Acts 3:4-6

As we considered last time, the first step in ministering to the poor, needy, and disenfranchised (as Jesus and the apostles did), to is to at least look at them. Not through them or past them, but at them. Acknowledging their presence. Communicating actual care for them. After all, they are, like us, fellow human beings created in the image of God, no matter how that image has been marred, and no matter what the reason.

The next step is to speak to them about Jesus. As mentioned last time, He is not what they want or are asking for, but like all sinners, He is what they need the very most!

Feeding the hungry is a noble thing. If we can, it is not a bad thing to do. (Someone close to me makes it a practice to find a homeless person to give left overs when she has ordered more than she can eat when eating out. Great Idea!)

But whether we can give them food or not, we must give them Jesus. Too often, well meaning individuals (and ministries) that serve the poor, get sidetracked away from Christ and the gospel, focusing solely on physical needs to the neglect of the people’s spiritual needs. Without Christ, a full stomach gives only fleeting comfort. Christ and the gospel give people eternally abundant life.

Saying “God bless you,” and nothing else, really doesn’t mean much. And since we are often on our way to or from some other engagement, we seldom have the time to engage in lengthy conversation. And even if we do, sadly, many find street people difficult to speak with. This is why I again advocate keeping tracts on our persons so we can “give them Christ and the gospel” in the form of a tract they can read maybe later.

More thoughts, next time…

Maybe we can at least make eye contact

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you…”
Acts 3:4-6

Peter and John were in the temple at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1). They came across a disabled man (he could not walk) who was doing what disabled people in those days had to do to survive: beg (v.2).

To most passersby, then as now, a disabled beggar may as well have been invisible. They are always there, always looking for a handout. Most of us look away, avoiding eye contact. People in those kinds of conditions can make us feel uncomfortable.

Peter and John, disciples of Christ, born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and moved with compassion looked at the man. In fact, according to verse 4, Peter “fixed his eyes [looked intently] on the man.”

Reading this again, I am convicted that like many, I tend to look past people in similar situations. It is easy, and to some extent justifiable, to look past people on the street begging. After all, in our culture, many are in the situation they are in, not because of disability or because they have no choice. Many have chosen this way of life rather than working. Many have substance abuse problems. And the truth be told, some have abused their family and friends’ generosity to the extent that they will no longer underwrite their irresponsibility.

And like Peter, we cannot shell out money to every beggar we see. But maybe we can at least make eye contact. Maybe we can acknowledge them. Maybe we can say something to them. Maybe if we stocked our pockets or purses with Gospel tracts, we could say, “Did you get one of these yet?” and give them a tract.

I know that isn’t what their asking for, but it is what they need most.

(8 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the eighth of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the Church from Acts 2:44-47:

8. Church members saw “people being added to the church” (v.47). Every individual must receive Christ on his or her own. However, everyone who is saved individually, immediately becomes a member of Christ’s Church. Most true believers unite with a “local church” of like-minded believers where they can worship together, pray together, learn and grow together, serve together, and evangelize the lost together.

While most believers unite with a local church, some do not. Why? Maybe there are no churches with which to unite. That is not a problem in America. While there are no perfect churches, there are churches. Others may not unite with a church because they do not realize they need to. Maybe they do not want to. The reality is, however, whether or not one wants to unite with a church, we all need to. Why? Besides for the practical reasons listed in the previous paragraph of this article:

Jesus came to “save His people from their sins.” “His” and “their” are plural. Jesus didn’t come merely to save individuals, but “a people” for Himself.

The letters in the New Testament (including Revelation) were written to churches—except for Philemon (who had a church meeting in his house), the two letters to Timothy, and the one to Titus (who were pastors of churches). Clearly, Christianity is “group activity” called “church!”

Christians together are called Christ’s “body” (made of many different parts) and Christ’s “Bride.” And one day Jesus will return for a “bride” (singular, comprised of many members), not for a “harem” of individual lovers.

A blessing of Christian fellowship is witnessing Church members “being added to the church.” (v.47)

(7 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the seventh of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the Church from Acts 2:44-47:

7. Church members saw God saving people (v.47). Someone once said, “The Church is not a saving institution, but an institution for the saved.” That is why the focus of Christian worship services is about believers worshiping God, not about trying to get the “unchurched” into the church in hopes of entertaining them into the kingdom of God.

So how do people get saved? Some people get saved by hearing the gospel at church, but more often it happens as Christian family or friends share Christ with, and pray for, their salvation. Even most of those who got saved as a result of attending church, attended because someone they know invited them. The personal factor is essential.

The Church that is faithfully “being a church” (as described in Acts 2:42-47) will likely see people getting saved. Sometimes we will see more being saved and sometimes less, as the Lord sovereignly saves His people. But His sovereignty in saving His people does not diminish our responsibility to (a) be committed to the Lord and to His Word, (b) proclaim the gospel to those who do not know Christ, and (c) pray, pray, pray—since only the Lord can save.

Let prayers for the lost be a major theme in our prayer meetings as we long to see people saved!

(6 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the sixth of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the Church from Acts 2:44-47:

6. Church members “had favor with all the people” (v.47). Jesus identified the two greatest commandments. (1) Love God, & (2) Love other people (Mark 12:28-31). Loving God is first, not only in importance, but also in sequence, since we are incapable of loving others if we do not first love God.

Loving other people includes loving (a) our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 3:14), (b) our neighbors (who are not necessarily believers) (Mark 12:31), and (c) even our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

What is meant by “having favor with all the people”? Romans 12:18 and Hebrews 12:14 both instruct us to be at peace with all people. We cannot force peace with those who refuse peace, but we must do all we can to make peace with all people.

(1) Let us do all we can to be at peace and find favor with Christian brothers and sisters. If we do all we can, we will nearly always find favor. When we are doing all we can and yet cannot “find favor” in a believer’s eyes, that is on him or her.

(2) Let us do all we can to be at peace also with neighbors and enemies. Though there will be people in the world who will hate believers because they hate Christ, we must pursue peace with all as much as we can. If we honestly pursue peace, in most cases we will “have favor with all people.” When we are doing all we can and yet cannot “find favor” in our neighbors’ or enemies’ eyes, that is on them.

May the Church be filled with peacemakers, that we may “find favor with all the people”!

(5 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the fifth of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the Church from Acts 2:44-47:

5. Church members “praised God” (v.47). Those who do not know the Lord do not praise the Lord. They may be happy when experiencing “good luck,” but that isn’t really praising God at all.

Those who know the Lord—and I mean know that He is the Sovereign from whose benevolent hand comes all things—can, and do, praise the Lord, at least some of the time. Sadly, even we who know the sovereign One, tend to forget to praise Him. Why? Ironically, because we are so used to His kind benevolence, that we tend to take the blessings that come from Him for granted. So we forget to praise the Lord, except when He really blesses us in big ways.

Some teach that we are to praise God “in all things,” but “not for all things.” This teaching is based on the mistaken belief that God is not sovereign over “all things.” The reality is, since He is sovereign over all things, He has a plan for us even in the circumstances that we don’t think of as praiseworthy. But if we believe that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), we can and should praise God our circumstances notwithstanding. Praising God, you see, is about Him—and about His sovereignty even in our sorrows. He is worthy of all praise because of who He is and because He is working all things together for our good and for His glory.

Let us ask the Lord to teach us to praise the Lord always in all things. And may we as a church encourage each other to praise the Lord!

Next Time: Church members had “favor with all the people.” (v.47)

(4 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the fourth of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the church from Acts 2:44-47:

4. Church members did all “with gladness and simplicity of heart” (v.46). Two things:

(1) The Christian heart is to be glad, or cheerful. Proverbs 15:13 says: “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.” Do all things make us happy? Certainly not. But our sins are forgiven, and that truth is better than all the bad things combined. Believe me when I say, the day is coming when everything else will disappear in importance compared to having God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ. May we have that perspective.

And may that perspective be especially evident in the church. Let us do all with gladness, not because everything is so easy or pleasurable, not because we always get our way. But because we are forgiven and because we are the company of the redeemed.

(2) The Christian heart should seek simplicity. Life is complicated enough as it comes. Let us do all we can not to complicate it more! 1 Thessalonians 4:11 calls each of us to “also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business…” This is true not only for our individual lives, but in the church. At Grace Bible Church we conscientiously seek to keep things simple.

May we, and may our church, do all “with gladness and simplicity of heart” (v.46).

Next Time: Church members “praised God” (v.47).