Seeing God-sized Results

Introduction

A phrase I’ve heard often in my ministry is that a ministry should be seeking “God-sized results.” But, what does that mean?

Typically, in Scripture, God-sized results come inspite of the actions of humans, not necessarily as the result of human activity.

And when it is the result of human activity, it’s rarely something that was planned or expected from the humans involved.

But, still, when many ministry leaders talk about God-sized results (or other sayings that mean the same thing), what it usually means is a lot of people respond and start coming to church.

It’s because, especially within the modern Western church, we tend to gauge results by counting nickles and noses, because it’s the only thing we can really quantify. It’s impossible for us to see people’s hearts, as God does, so we typically use the best information we have.

And yet, I’m still not sure this is a good gauge of whether we are legitimately seeing God-sized results.

For example, no evangelical Christian is going to saying that the Islam is experiencing God-sized results, and yet world-wide, it is the fastest growing religion in the world.

The fastest growing faith-group in the United States is the so-called “Nones”, meaning they have no religious affiliation or belief. Is this a God-sized result? Of course not.

And, in a market-driven society like ours, if a person markets a church just right, it’s likely that the church will grow. Is that God-sized growth? Maybe. Maybe not.

The point is, we really can’t manufacture God-sized results. They are, by nature, the per view of God, not man.

But, as we will see this morning, we can do certain things as individuals and as a church that will put our church in a place where it’s more likely that we will see God-sized results.

Additionally, when these are lacking in a church, we are sure that we won’t see God-sized results.

Body: Acts 2:43-47

Verse 43

Awe = reverence…amazement

Interestingly, this can also be translated as “fear”...φόβος

Wonders and signs…

Both are marvelous events which manifest a supernatural act of God, but one brings about amazement (wonder) and the other conveys a message (sign).

The people were in awe because of the wonders and signs that were happening within the church.

They probably didn’t understand them, but they knew that God was doing something.

Verse 44

Unity & commonality…

They saw each other as equals before the Lord...

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Verse 45

They pooled their resources voluntarily to contribute to a fund which other believers (and possibly non-believers) could receive help. (Not unlike the idea of benevolence, but it went much further than we are often willing to go.)

“A real Christian could not bear to have too much when others have too little.”

Not communism or socialism, because it wasn’t forced. It was willfully taking care of other people’s needs.

This lifestyle points back to the OT ideal that “there will be no poor among you.”

Deuteronomy 15:4 ESV

But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—

The idea behind this was that they held the needs of others in the community more highly than their material possessions.

Because of their unity of heart and spirit, they were able to bypass their natural selfishness and putting others needs before their desires for personal possessions.

Verses 46-47

For now, the church is experiencing relative freedom (meeting in the temple courts) and the fellowship is sweet.

But, as we shall see, this peace and popularity wasn’t what God had in store for the church of all time and eternity.

It’s a lesson in enjoying the “good times,” but understanding that the nature of our message will not always bring us peace.

Matthew 10:22–23 ESV

and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Luke 6:26 ESV

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Additionally, they were experiencing this fellowship and unity because they were in fellowship with Christ and unified in His Spirit. (This cannot be artificially manufactured!)

An example of their fellowship and unity:

They shared common meals together. Opening their homes to each other in the sweet fellowship of Christian love.

A shared meal is an intimate experience...

Notice too that they received their food with glad and generous hearts.

This could be an indicator that they were simply thankful to have what they needed…another example of the lack of selfishness.

In fact, the word translated as “generous” can also be translated as “simple.” They lived simply.

It could also be an indicator that they took joy in even the common and mundane tasks, like meals.

Praising God together suggests that they worshiped together, but also probably shared their blessings with one another...

Having favor with all people is interesting...

In the end, this is a great goal for the church; to be unified in Spirit and purpose.

Does it mean we will experience a situation where day by day people are being saved? Maybe. But there’s no promise of that here.

This, instead is a call to faithfulness.

So What?

The Gospel-centered, Spirit-empowered church will only see God-sized results when we devote ourselves to learning God’s Word, loving care for one another, honoring God in our worship, and prayer.

Gospel-centered…

Spirit-empowered…

Learning God’s Word together…

Caring for one another…

Honoring God in worship…

Corporate and private prayer…