WED. - Signs of a Healthy Church (Acts 2:42-47). Part 1

Turn with me in your Bibles to Acts 2.

We are coming to the end of ONE of the MOST powerful chapters in the Word of God!

NOTICE - I did NOT say, THE MOST POWERFUL, but ONE of the Most Powerful Chapters in the Written Word of God!

It is so powerful due to the OBEDIENCE of PEOPLE BELIEVING - that’s powerful!

It is so powerful due to the OBEDIENCE of PEOPLE BELONGING - Baptism is a powerful statement of obedience to the believer!

It is also powerful due to the OBEDIENCE of PEOPLE BEHAVING - that’s powerful!

And that is what we are going to focus our attention on this evening - behaving as God’s Church!

If you have found Acts 2 and are physically able to stand, PLEASE STAND FOR THE READING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

Acts 2:42–47 - “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

TONIGHT - I have entitled this last passage of Acts 2 as - “Signs of a Healthy Church.”

Let’s Pray!

For all of us parents of young children, at some point and time - We can ALL remember the trips to the DR. OFFICE!

As a parent, you probably were VERY concerned about the welfare of your precious offspring, and uttered some of these same questions to the doctor in charge ~

Does “MY LITTLE PUMPKIN” weigh the right amount?

Is he/she the right height, according to their age?

Are they progressing enough from the bottle, to baby food, & then to solid food?

Are they ever going to sleep through the night?

Will they EVER learn to eat by, and dress, themselves?

What are we doing by asking these type of questions?

SHOWING LOSS OF SANITY - huh!

TRUTHFULLY - We are wanting to know that there are SOME signs of development and maturity!

And with those signs, we CERTAINLY hope for some CONTINUANCE!

I mean WHAT PARENT truly wants to feed, bathe, dress, carry around, and put to bed - THEIR ADULT CHILDREN?

We hope and pray that our children at some point, learn to show some determined signs of maturity!

ONLY TO RELAPSE BACKWARDS IN THOSE DREADED TEENAGE YEARS!

In our passage, we have seen the salvation to many of these Jews on the Day of Pentecost!

AND ALL GOD’S PEOPLE CAN SAY AMEN - RIGHT THERE!

There OUGHT to be GREAT rejoicing every time that we hear of one getting saved!

And PRAISE the LORD, there were those who were NOT ONLY obedient to the calling of the Holy Spirit in Salvation, BUT ALSO SURRENDER -

They followed the Lord in Believer’s Baptism!

BUT NOW WHAT?

Is this ALL that there is to the Christian life?

Is your “FIRE PROTECTION” and simple OBEDIENCE, all that there is to maturing IN CHRIST?

Of course not!

Then - let’s take a look at this INFANT CHURCH, already in progress, to see what are some ENCOURAGING SIGNS of growth -

And consequently, as we go through our passage -

Why don’t EACH of you, take notes to see if these signs are APPARENT in you!

I am not asking, do others see these signs - we are ALL guilty of fooling others, at some time or another!

I am asking, does GOD KNOW these to be true in your life?

If not - there might NEED to be some follow-up visits with The Great Physician -

To see what HIS MANUAL has to say, and the necessary procedures for you to take,

To get you BACK on track, to Spiritual Health!

2 Timothy 3:16–17 - “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (MATURE), throughly furnished unto all good works.”

SO - sit up straight, listen carefully, and let’s start the EVALUATION! -

They Were STEADFAST. - Acts 2:42 - “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

What in the world does that word, “STEADFAST” mean?

FIRST (FOR ALL THE ENGLISH MAJORS LISTENING) - that word is an adverb, describing just how they continued (BEING AN ACTION VERB).

Steadfast is an OLD ENGLISH word that Websters states the meaning as “firmly; with constancy or steadiness of mind.” Etymology online defines it as “resolute, unshakeable, stubborn, fixed in purpose, faith.”

WHAT’S IN THIS FOR YOU/ME? - There OUGHT to be some steadfastness to the things of God, that you have heard taught and being preached!

The Apostle Paul wrote to those struggling believers in Philippi in Philippians 1:27 - “Only let your conversation (LIFESTYLE) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

As you have heard me say before in Sunday School -

You come to the Church House and hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of God -

What are you doing with it?

Does it just go in one ear, and out the other; then off I go because I have done my duty?

Is the teaching and preaching used of Holy Spirit of God to prick your hearts, and a change is the result - just like those hearing Jews, in Acts 2 -

And if so, are you responding to the faithful message that has been given?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU SPENT TIME AT THIS ALTAR ON YOUR FACE BEFORE GOD, FROM HIS CONVICTION OVER SOMETHING?

COMPLETELY BROKEN OVER YOUR SIN?

COMPLETELY BROKEN OVER OTHERS!

Some responded in our passage, as we know, and they were gloriously saved!

Others did not, and who knows, if they ever came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

What are you doing with what God has given unto you? Luke 12:48 - “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

For these blessed hearers of the Word of God, we see that they DID something with what they heard -

The Bible says in Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly”.

Well - let’s take a closer look to evaluate what they continued in, so steadfastly!

Steadfast in TRUTH.

I have to admit, that while preparing for the message, I had the proper understanding of what the Scriptures was saying! Due to the foggy-headedness from this crud, while preparing - I like how Dr. John Phillips alliterates in his description of their steadfastness.

They were STEADFAST IN TRUTH. - Acts 2:42 - “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine”.

Hold your place in Acts 2, and turn back to John 14.

While you are finding your place, what IS DOCTRINE?

Doctrine is simply “the act of teaching.”

From a Biblical standpoint, it is the instructional truths of the Gospel, from THE WORD, in the Written Word of God.

Keep in mind, that there had NOT been a great lapse in time, since the Lord Jesus Christ had JUST been with His disciples - RIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH, BURIAL & RESURRECTION.

Notice TWO particular verses in John 14 -

John 14:16,17 - “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Who was the Lord Jesus Christ promising to come after He was gone?

THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!

Has that taken place in Acts 2 - YES OR NO?

YES! - He has come, just as was promised.

Go back & read Acts 2:1-4.

John 14:25–26 - “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

What did Christ teach? He TAUGHT Doctrine.

John 7:14–16 - “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”

And so throughout the New Testament, there is MUCH exhortation given unto sound doctrine -

1 Timothy 4:13 - “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

2 Timothy 3:16 - “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

Titus 1:9 - “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound (UNCORRUPTED AND TRUE) doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

Titus 2:1 - “But speak thou the things which become sound (SAME) doctrine:”

Take note to wise counsel - “Precept ALWAYS comes before Practice.”

When a person gets up to teach and preach, what he says had better line up with the Word of God.

Take for instance, when you sit down to read - let’s say the Book of Ephesians -

The Apostle Paul gives Doctrine in the first half of the Book, and THEN he adds the application in the last half.

Hence, as preachers and teachers of HIS WORD, HIS DOCTRINE - we get BEHIND HIS WORD & not in front of it!

Hence - the first sign of maturity in this infant church, was the Steadfastness to THE TRUTH!

One true sign that someone has been genuinely saved, is the desire to be instructed in the doctrines (TEACHINGS, INSTRUCTIONS) of God, found in the Bible.

I get REAL nervous being around those who sing, “OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS”, yet cannot be faithful to the House of God for the teaching and preaching of God’s Word!

I’m NOT at all referring to cases of emergency, but we often allow too many excuses to clutter being where we are supposed to be!

That draws RED FLAGS up in my mind!

Go ahead and just call me hard-nosed, ole-fogey, a Bible-thumper, a “goody two-shoes” - THAT’S FINE!

I’m thick-skinned, I can take it!

THIS IS A GOD-GIVEN CONVICTION TO ME!

THANK GOD!!! for those who ARE eager to be in Church when the doors are open, to absorb the Word of God, like a dry sponge!

They are not just professors, they are true possessors, and want to know more about what they have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

After Paul’s conversion, he had a growing desire to know the Lord Jesus Christ more -

Philippians 3:10 - “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

Sadly, there are many that only know God, in that they are saved, and truly DO NOT know God at all!

They are ignorant of His Doctrine -

And their lives prove it -

WHY? there is NO SPIRITUAL CONSISTENCY!

Are you STEADFAST IN THE TRUTH?

They Were Steadfast in TIES of Fellowship - Acts 2:42 - “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and FELLOWSHIP”.

Amos 3:3 asks a rhetorical question - “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

I urge you to consider that statement, personally!

Then my next question to follow up with, would be thus -

WHO do you desire to spend the MOST time with?

I’m not saying to go and hibernate from those you work with -

“My pastor says can two walk together except they be agreed”-

“And since we do not agree, i cannot be around you!”

WHO DO PURPOSEFULLY DESIRE TO SPEND TIME WITH?

As a Christian, if you get more excitement out of spending time with those IN the world, than those who are your brothers & sisters in the Lord -

YOU MIGHT HAVE AN IDENTITY CRISIS!

ADDITIONALLY, That OUGHT to serve as a wakeup call for the REST of us!

If you, as a Christian, are a stumbling block to your brothers & sisters in the Lord, pushing them to rather spend time with those in the world than you, as a professor of being a Christian -

Then YOU MY FRIEND, might have an IDENTITY crisis on hand, too!

What am I getting at?

When you get together with your brothers & sisters in the Lord, there OUGHT to be some kind of Christian fellowship!

Last time that I checked, the word Christian STILL meant “Christ-like.”

Therefore, while the word synonomous with fellowship is communion -

There OUGHT to be fellowship/communion with other believers over salvation!

Luke 10:20 - “but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

Psalm 5:11 - “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice”.

There OUGHT to be fellowship with other believers over personal sanctification.

Galatians 6:2 - “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

There OUGHT to be fellowship with other believers concerning church.

Psalm 122:1 - “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

There OUGHT to be fellowship with other believers concerning the Word of God.

Colossians 3:16 - “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

There OUGHT to be fellowship with other believers concerning faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 4:2 - “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

1 Thessalonians 5:24 - “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

You CANNOT always have those same kinds of fellowship, or sweet communion, with those in the world, like you can, OR OUGHT TO WITH ANOTHER CHRISTIAN!

WHY? AGAIN - Amos 3:3 - “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

1 Corinthians 2:14 - “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

These believers in Acts 2 were -

STEADFAST in THE Truth.

STEADFAST in Ties of Fellowship.

STEADFAST With the Table. - Acts 2:42 - “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread”.

HERE WE GO - the presence of undeniable proof that baptist casseroles are listed in the Bible!

Just like the Wise Men seeking Baby Jesus were firemen - they came from a far!

Not only is this proof for the breaking of bread in a communal meal, but references additional the practice of Remembering the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Cor. 11:26).

I urge your attention upon the proper order taking place here in our text -

Acts 2:41 - “Then they that gladly received his word -

In other words, these Jews accepted the Gift of Salvation, taken from Peter’s Message at Pentecost

[THEN] were baptized:

They were obedient to the first command of the Lord Jesus Christ after salvation -

Matthew 28:19 - “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

And they were added to the 1st Century Local Church, there in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:42 - “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread”.

NOW!!! - These Jews who had just been saved, and obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ in Believer’s baptism, were NOW able to partake of the Lord’s Table!

That is BIBLICALLY WHY, one who has been saved BUT NOT SCRIPTURALLY BAPTIZED, should NOT partake of the Lord’s Table UNTIL he has been obedient to the Lord’s FIRST command of obedience after Salvation - BAPTISM!

AGAIN - We serve a God of ORDER!

ORDER IS EVERYTHING!

And HIS Doctrine, HIS Instructions/teachings ARE RIGHT!

John Phillips says, “In baptism we show our death with Christ; in breaking of bread we show His death for us.”

STEADFAST in THE TRUTH.

STEADFAST With TIES of Fellowship.

STEADFAST With the TABLE.

STEADFAST AT THE THRONE. - Acts 2:42 - “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (TURN TO HEB. 4, QUICKLY)

Before the Resurrection of the GREAT SACRIFICIAL LAMB - the Lord Jesus Christ -

In the Old Testament, the ONLY means of man coming before God was through the Great High Priest, on the Day of Atonement.

YET, on THAT GREAT & SPECIAL DAY OF ATONEMENT, ONCE & FOR ALL -

The Veil in the Temple being rent in twain from top to bottom signified that ALL may go in unto God!

Therefore Ladies & Gentlemen, you NOW have THE GREATEST opportunity to go unto Almighty God -

And to top it all off, the Lord Jesus Christ - Our GREAT HIGH PRIEST bids you to come unto His Throne!

Hebrews 4:14–15 - “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 4:16 - “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Imagine - just inside the Temple, and Tabernacle, past the veil that separates the Holy Place from THE HOLY OF HOLIES -

JEHOVAH GOD is seated upon the Most Holy Place, The Mercy Seat.

The High Priest approaches that seat or throne with the blood of the atonement to make intercession for the people and to plead for pardon.

But, for the Child of God, this is not just any “High Priest who could NOT be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

This was the Sinless Son of God!

Having shed HIS OWN BLOOD as my propitiation or atonement!

And He approaches the Throne of JEHOVAH GOD and pleads on my behalf!

Therefore, He bids us to come with boldness and look for pardon.

Coming not upon our own merits, but that of His Own, and assured that upon the merits of the Sinless Son of God with HIS SINLESS BLOOD, God is therefore merciful!

OH WHAT MERCY, OF WHAT GRACE!

“OH HOW MARVELOUS, OH HOW WONDERFUL IS MY SAVIOUR’S LOVE FOR ME!”

Ladies & Gentlemen, you CAN rejoice that there is A Throne of Grace, and you CAN go there to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need!

YES! This 1st Century Church Was INDEED A STEADFAST CHURCH!