WED. - Signs of a Healthy Church (part 2)

Introduction

Turn in your Bibles to Acts 2.

From the last time that we opened the 2nd Chapter of Acts -

We have been observing this 1st Century Church, located in Jerusalem.

Many great things have transpired in just a short time -

For the Hand of Almighty God can be seen all over its birth, blossoming, and betterment.

And we too can find education and encouragement from their example -

Right here in the 21st century -

Right here at Hunterdale Baptist Church

IF - we are willing to follow their pattern!

Let’s Continue Looking at the Signs of a Healthy Church!

Last time, we could see from Acts 2:42 -

A Church that was STEADFAST!

They were “firm, unshakeable, showing steadiness” -

In Truth - in other words, the apostle’s doctrine.

In Ties of Fellowship - Amos 3:3 - “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

With the Table - Remembering the Lord’s Table.

At the Throne - Hebrews 4:15–16 - “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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

NOW - Let’s See What Other Signs This Church Showed!

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

For now, let’s just look at the next verse, we may go further, but let’s just look to Acts 2:43 for now.

Acts 2:43 - “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”

Let’s Pray and we will continue the Message -

Signs of a Healthy Church!

This Church Was Separated, or Set Apart. - turn to Eph. 4.

This Was the Outcome, or results, Of Being Steadfast to the Apostle’s Doctrine!

I was taking a ZOOM class on Fundamentalism just last night, and will be participating for the next month.

In doing so, the discussion started with Bible Doctrine -

And Pastor Brennan brought out this power statement seen in the Book of Ephesians -

“Correct doctrine (APOSTLES, WHAT BIBLE TEACHES) is the ONLY basis for true unity and fellowship!

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

As you go through the first half of Ephesians, Paul exhorts the believer in Bible Doctrine -

Then proceeds in Eph. 4:1-16 to deal with the unity and harmony therefore in the Body of Christ, being the Church.”

READ Ephesians 4:11–12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Notice the outcome evidencing, as Paul states in Ephesians 4:13 - “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (COMPLETE, MATURE) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

Of the faith, Paul mentions, is simply the BIBLE DOCTRINES that I am supposed to believe!

And why is this so important???

Ephesians 4:14 - “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

That is why it is NOT wise to gain your Bible doctrine from every TV preacher on the tube, or internet -

I found out about one this week -

Who calls himself a Baptist, but needs to correct wrong traditional teachings found in most churches!

Some of his teachings are WAY OUT THERE, and NOT IN THE WORD OF GOD.

My pastor used to always say, “A text without a context is a pretext.”

In other words, “if you take a verse or passage out of its surrounding i formation, it can easily be misused or misinterpreted to support a particular viewpoint, essentially becoming an excuse or false justification for something.”

That is WHY you have to be so careful!

And more importantly to be in church, where you have a pastor that you can trust!

Who WILL take the time to study and repetitively teach Sound Bible Doctrine

Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:6 - “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

What was Paul speaking of, when he stated “THESE THINGS”?

He was speaking of Bible Doctrine!

It was Martin Lloyd Jones that stated...”My contention is that the teaching of the New Testament is quite clear about this, that there is an absolute foundation, an irreducible minimum, without which the term ‘Christian’ is meaningless, and without subscribing to which a man is not a Christian. That is ‘the foundation of the apostles and prophets’ - the doctrine concerning ‘Jesus Christ and him crucified,’ and ‘justification by faith only.’ ...Apart from that there is no such thing as fellowship, no basis of unity at all.”

WHY HAVE I GONE TO SUCH EXTREMES HERE TONIGHT?

It is the presence and practice to IMPORTANT BIBLE DOCTRINE!

AND, in holding STEADFASTLY thereto, many others, there in Jerusalem, were able to take visible notice of what was TRULY taking place in God’s Church!

Therefore, Acts 2:43 states, there Was “GREAT FEAR came upon every soul”. (NOT scared, but referential or respectful).

Sad to say, MOST churches today do little to bring any confrontation to the world, and to those from within -

Due to such low standards, and lacking practices of Bible conviction!

We have certainly entered the age where the world looks at the church and see such indifference, and consequently does NOT fear God - for such a meaningless testimony shown forth!

Therefore such practice pervade, and sought after -

Any ole version of Scripture will do -

Either sex can stand and PREACH, what thus saith the LORD -

The music of the world can be infused with some religious word and thus promote Godly worship

Strobe lights and a performance stage have become the norm in ALOT of churches

And simple sermonettes on the olivet have become commonplace instead of RED-HOT, FIERY, SHINGLE-PULLING, FIRE & BRIMSTONE, HELL-WARNING PREACHING of yesteryear

Because afterall, we do not want to offend anyone!

We are more concerned with UNITY than doctrine!

We want people to feel good about themselves!

Hence, the disrespectful message brought forth on Inauguration Day...nothing was Scriptural about it!

And THAT is the MODERN DAY THEOLOGY of most churches!

And does NOT constitute what the Word of God teaches plainly -

Nor is it seen in the life of this 1st Century Church of Jerusalem!

They HAD the presence and practice of Bible Doctrine -

God Blessed Abundantly

And consequently, those on the outside could visually see what was going on -

Therefore, the Bible says, “GREAT FEAR CAME UPON EVERY SOUL.”

Sad to Say, There USED to be a Time, When People Respected God-Fearing Bible-Believing Churches!

You didn’t utter CERTAIN worldly rhetoric -

You didn’t play CERTAIN worldly music -

You didn’t tell CERTAIN off-color jokes -

You didn’t throw trash onto the premises -

Of churches, and God-fearing Christian from within,

Because of what they USED to stand for!

Their reputation CERTAINLY proceeded them!

What has happened!

I can tell you what has happened!

The Gospel has been watered down!

Hell is NOT preached on regularly!

Story-telling & jokes have replaced the preaching of the Word of God!

Doctrinal preaching and teaching was a thing of the past for our parents and grandparents!

Godly pastors have been replaced with spineless, gutless, and Biblically unqualified poor substitutes!

And UNTIL the WHOLE COUNSEL of GOD, including Sound Bible Doctrine, Makes it Back INTO the PULPITS of God’s Churches Around the Globe -

We Are NOT Going to See the FEAR, seen in Acts 2:43, from those from without!

Because there are NO wonders and signs from those, who are within!

Peter exhorted in 1 Peter 1:15–16 - “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy (SEPARATED, SET APART UNTO GOD) in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

God Help Us - We Need Biblically Healthy Churches -

A Church That Is STEADFAST!

A Church That is Separated Or, Set Apart!

A Church That is Systematized.

Here Was This Infant Church Organized The Way God Intended.

Aren’t you glad that we serve the ONE TRUE GOD - Who is the perfect standard of systematic organization.

I have come to learn that when you do things GOD’S WAY, ESPECIALLY IN HIS CHURCH - things go SO MUCH BETTER!

My pastor used to always preach -

OBEDIENCE brings the blessings of God, and DISOBEDIENCE brings heartache!

And we can vividly see God’s blessings upon the OBEDIENCE of His People - in this Jerusalem Church!

It IS His Church - He Paid For It With His Own Blood -

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

Therefore, He HAS the RIGHT to say what goes on!

And these first century believers epitomized it!

And, HOW - you may ask?

They Were Unified! - Acts 2:44 - “And all that believed were together”.

They Were Unified in Their Prophesying.

The apostles were teaching and preaching as God gave it unto them!

We just read a couple verses previously - “And they continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine”.

Can you imagine the confusion, and ensuing chaos, that would take place - if ANOTHER Gospel was preached?

Can you reasonably tell me that God would add His blessings on His preacher, and consequently His Church -

If I brought in and attempted to preach from -

Readers Digest -

NOW, I like SOME of Reader’s Digest -

BUT - I AM NOT GOING TO PREACH FROM IT IN THE PULPIT!

Neither would you catch me trying to interweave into the King James Bible -

The Pearl of Great Price

The Book of Mormon

The Quran

The Watchtower Publications

WHY?

It is NOT THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD!

ALL of those other publications DO NOT contain the UNIFIED WORD OF GOD!

They do not teach what the Bible has to say about

Salvation

Prayer

God, Himself

The Trinity

Heaven & Hell

Baptism

The Lord Jesus Christ

His Virgin Birth, Deity, Bodily Resurrection, Ascension, & Return, nor His Preexistence!

Additionally, THAT is ANOTHER Reason WHY, I PREACH SO HARD, on the RIGHT Bible to Use - THE KJV BIBLE!

When MAN goes taking away from what God has ALREADY given, -

And DOCTRINE, that we are supposed to follow and support, is dilluted or completely taken away -

As David said in Psalm 11:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?”

God has given us His Preserved Inspired Word of God, and the KJV is the closest translation in the English speaking language!

We do NOT need to re-write it, we must simply re-read it

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

And that cannot take place, when Bible doctrine has been taken out!

Doctrine on the Blood

Doctrine on the Lord Jesus Christ

Doctrine on the Trinity

And so many other Doctrines!

God BLESSED This Church at Jerusalem Because They Unified in Their Prophesying

They Were Unified in Their Partaking. - Acts 2:44 - “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;”

We Can See These Christians Became Caring and Concerned For Others! - Turn to Phil. 2.

These early believers were more concerned for others than there ownselves.

One favorite of mine, that we will take note of later, is Barnabas

As we will come to meet at the end of Acts 4 -

Who was utterly able to exhort those with whom he came in contact with!

What a distinguishable characteristic to have - “the son of consolation.”

Always concerned for others, and less of himself!

And as a result,

Sold land that he had possessed, took the money, and brought it to the apostles.

What an example that he set before others!

It was Jim Elliot that humble missionary that gave his life so that some primitive Indians could be reached with the Gospel -

“He is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Because it all belongs to God, and Jim Elliott knew this, just like Barnabas!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Gods people would consider others over themselves!

Take to heart what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:1–8 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

When we fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ - Hebrews 12:2 - “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”.

Who was ALL about OTHERS -

Matthew 20:28 - “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

THEN - We Will Strive LESS With Strife With Others!

That is why, it is vitally important, when there is a problem from within -

To get it out -

To follow the instructions from the Word of God -

To forgive one another -

Too move forward with what God has for each us, personally & corporately!

ALL working together cohesively for the good of the entirety -

That is rendition of what synergy is!

So much can be accomplished as we will note in the Book of Acts, when ALL come together and work unified!

They Were A STEDFAST Church.

They Were A SEPARATED, or SET APART Church.

They Were A SYSTEMIZED Church.

They Were A SURRENDERED Church. — Acts 2:45 - “And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”