Perseverance in the Lord - Blueprints - Grow
Blueprints • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Connect: Intro & Purpose of Series
We are in the second week of a series in which we are examining some of the first chapters of the New Testament Book of Acts that describe the early church in the days after Jesus’s ascension into heaven. In these chapters, God’s Blueprints unfold as we see the establishment of the church as they practice these four rhythms for his people: Gather, Grow, Give, and Go.
We are going to consider these 4 Gs to be the Blueprints to the establishment of God’s Church.
Last week, we concentrated on the first stage of the blueprints, The G of “Gather” and saw how the church was devoted to meeting together for the apostles teaching, sharing, friendship/community, and prayers.
Today as we move to the second stage which is the 2nd G, “Grow.” In this stage, we’ll hone in a bit more on their committed to knowing God and prayer as we look at Acts 4:23-31
Read: Acts 4:23-31
Explain: As I was studying this passage, one word stood out to me. The word is Perseverance. The disciples persevered through a lot of trials for the sake of the gospel. But it was what made them grow in their faith.
And I believe it is important for us to know that when it comes to our growth in the faith, we need to know where our perseverance needs to take place.
But before we get into that, I’d love for us to hear about someone’s own growth in this church.
Tell: Evan Stevens (Leader) - 9 am
Express: God's heart for all of us is that we grow boldly in our faith by prayer and the Word of God, filled with the Holy Spirit.
Pray:
Scripture - Context - The beginning stages of the Church
Acts 1-2
- Ascension of Jesus
- Pentecost
- Description of the gathered church
Acts 3-4
- Miracle performed (Peter and John)
- Truth proclaimed / Message proclaimed
- Apostles persecuted (arrested) / Messengers persecuted
- Preaching prohibited / Message Prohibited
Read: Acts 4:23-26 through the points
Points:
Persevere in Partnership - Gathering with others - vs. 23-24
The first thing Peter and John do after they are released from Prison is to be with other believers.
Throughout the book of acts you will discover that unity is a central theme to the church.
This is the unity that Jesus prays for in John 17:21
21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.
Praising God together for all the things that happened to these disciples. - Celebration even against the odds. - 24
They didn’t feel bad or sorry for John and Peter for what they experienced, they worshiped the Lord for what happened. - John and Peter were thrown in prison and threatened. Yet they were committed to doing the same thing that got them in trouble again because the message of Christ was more important than what they would endure as a result.
Gathering is one of the most essential aspects of being a devoted follower of Jesus Christ
Let’s not get caught up in our own lives so much so that we forget about hospitality, gathering together, and helping each other in times of need.
Persevere in the Pages - Knowing the Word - vs. 25-26
When you Know the Word, you get to know more about the Lord
They knew the Word so they can know what to pray for - vs. 25
Knowing the True God brings True Growth
How many of us truly seek to hear God speak?
God speaks the most clearly through His Word, but sometimes what we want is God to say something that we agree with.
If you want to hear God speak clearly and plainly, open the scriptures and read.
IF you don’t have a plan, we have a simple 4 year bible reading plan which includes reading a chapter of the Bible everyday.
How well do you know the Word?
What is your commitment level?
Persevere in Prayer - Submitting all things to God - vs. 24-30 - About the importance of Prayer
For the Apostles, Praying was foundational to their growth and development.
The word for prayer is in the book of Acts 29 times. Almost every chapter tells the story of the disciples devoting themselves to prayer.
They desired to submit themselves to the Lord and ask for His help.
They set apart time to pray for others, Peter & John.
How many times do we say “I’ll pray for you” But later on forget to pray?
To be Christian without prayer is like being alive without breathing.
Heb. 4:16 - Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
Prayer is the place of preparation with God to fulfill His will.
It changes circumstances, and it changes us
Commit to daily prayer.
Persevere in Power - The Holy Spirit empowers His people - vs. 31
Constant filling of The Spirit
to be filled means to be actively under His influence.
God’s Word helps us to know His Will, His Spirit enables us to act on it.
Peter filled multiple times (2:4, 4:8, 4:31)
Ask the Spirit daily to fill you so you can be empowered to do His will and strong to overcome sin.
Why don’t we feel the spirit enabling us to do something?
What are some things we have in our lives that are blocking us from hearing from the Spirit?
His Spirit is constant and never ceases speaking, but we can be so influenced by the world, the very Word of God might seem distant, but the reality is maybe you got a lot of stuff blocking Him out.
Remove the blockage and begin to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
God Affirms the Prayers of His People - vs 31. Prayers answered
Boldness leads to persecution
Getting Arrested, Beaten, Stephen first Christian Martyr
Matt 16:24-27 - lose your life for the sake of Christ to find it.
Empowered to be Bold
Transition: based on these 4 points of perseverance, I wonder where we all might need the extra help in growing in our faith knowing that God's heart for all of us is that we grow boldly in our faith by prayer and the Word of God, filled with the Holy Spirit.
Tell: My daughter had a very hard time going to her preschool class. She made a lot of friends with the babies in the one and two year old class, but when she turned 3, the transition had to be done. She was too smart to stay in the 1 & 2 year old room, but she didn’t want to go in the 3 year old room because she was comfortable with where she was.
But when she began going to preschool class, things changed. She told my wife and I that she asked someone to be her friend, she was helping her teacher, and she was coming home happier each day. Her teacher tells us that she is doing very well in the class. She is thriving now because she stepped into her next level.
Now, she went kicking and screaming some days, but now she loves to go.
Transition: I wonder if some of us are too comfortable with where we are today, that we aren’t willing to take the next step into our faith. It will be very uncomfortable to take that step to commit to daily discipline and boldness, it might even be like kicking and screaming to step out of your comfort zone, but if we persevere, the reward will be great.
Perseverance comes with a Price, but it ends with a Payout
A price of mockery, but a payout of Eternal Life - not all in this life, but in the next one
Gospel Moment: Jesus was the perfect object of scorn and mockery. He knew no sin, He was perfect in righteousness, and when He spoke the Truth, He was rejected. He was rejected so that you and I could be accepted into His Kingdom. His death brought you and I life and it was his love, His faithfulness, and His boldness that led Him to the cross to die for the sins of the world. But by His Power, He rose 3 days later to give us life and to forgive all of our sins, great and small. And When He ascended into heaven He sent God the Holy Spirit to live within us to be empowered to be representatives of His Word. All you need to do to receive the life that he offers you is to accept and confess that Jesus as Lord and Savior, repent of your sin and walk in the new way of life that the Holy Spirit teaches us to live.
If you are bold to speak the Word, you will also be rejected, you will also be scorned, but you will be rewarded greatly in Heaven.
Moment of Prayer - Today I’m asking you to take a stand for your faith. To be bold and committed to the faith. If you are here today and you want to be more committed to trusting in the Holy Spirit, if you are here today and want to devote yourself to reading scripture and communicating with God, then if you are able I want you to stand up as a symbol of your commitment. And if you are here and you want to get to know more about Jesus we would love to talk to you and have our elders pray with you in the prayer room.
PRAY: