Committed to A Gospel Witness

TAPESTRY COVENANT

We profess that we are believers saved by grace through faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are committed to loving God and each other, learning and growing in the Word, and living out the reconciling and unifying gospel blessings in our lives by being witnesses to our neighbors wherever the Lord places us.

We commit to the assembling of the Saints in worship of the Triune God. We commit to engage in regular fellowship with our brothers and sisters by carrying one another's burdens and being diligent in encouraging and exhorting one another in the name of Christ.

We commit to supporting the vision and mission of Tapestry Church utilizing our time, talent and treasure. We commit to submitting to Christ through the faithful leadership of the elders and pastors as they seek to serve in obedience to the scriptures, equipping the saints for the work of ministry.

We hereby affirm these covenant vows by God’s grace.

SERMON TEXT

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

INTRODUCTION

ARE WE “OUT OF” A GOSPEL WITNESS? WHAT CAN WE DO?

"Lord, as we gather in your presence, we humble ourselves before you. We ask you to stir us from our intellectual dullness and spiritual indifference. Ignite a fire within us—awaken our spirits and warm our hearts with your Holy Spirit's power. Help us remember that we are yours, belonging to a risen and conquering Lord whose reign will be complete and whose victory is certain. In his name we pray. Amen." (Adapted from MLJ)

OBSERVING THE EXAMPLE

The Context of the Prayer

Peter & John heal a lame man in the name of Jesus. The people around are astounded, but Peter is not. He preaches the gospel and points to Jesus: Acts 3:16 “And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” … Acts 4:11–12 “11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””…The message of the gospel creates confrontation between the Jewish leaders and the early church …Acts 4:18 “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

This context sets up the beginning of our passage in 4:23:

Acts 4:23 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

What will the church do in the face of this obstacle to the spread of the gospel?

The Content of the Prayer

1. A Unified Voice of Praise

Acts 4:24 ESV

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

When the obstacle faces them, they do not forget who God is.

2. A Reminder of God’s Plan

Acts 4:25–28 ESV

25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

The world has always raged against God’s Anointed.

Jesus was rejected.

All of this was according to God’s plan of redemption and rescue.

When the obstacle faces them, they do not forget what God is doing.

3. A Request for God’s Power

Acts 4:29–30 ESV

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

"They did not pray for judgment on their persecutors, nor did they pray for the end of persecution. They prayed for boldness to keep doing the things that got them into trouble."

- Tim Keller

They do not pray for new circumstances, but for strength to press on.

They do not pray for revenge, but for Jesus’ name to continue to spread.

When the obstacle faces them, they do not forget their mission.

The Consequence of the Prayer

Acts 4:31 ESV

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Two markers to notice: (1) the external affirmation of God’s presence and (2) the internal filling of the Spirit.

When the obstacle faces them, they depend on God’s presence.

APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE

Let’s Commit to Remembering Who God Is

"There is no boldness without a deep belief in the sovereignty of God... The first thing (the believers) do is they affirm and celebrate the radical, unwavering, absolute sovereignty of God."

- John Piper

Psalm 2:4–6 ESV

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Our lack of witness is a lack of a proper beholding. Do we believe that God is in control of all of the circumstances surrounding us today?

Let’s Commit to Remembering What God Is Doing

Psalm 2:7–8 ESV

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Romans 11:36 ESV

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Do we believe that God is orchestrating the course of history toward the forever kingdom of the Son?

Let’s Commit to Remembering Our Mission

Psalm 2:10–11 ESV

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

The gospel invites people to the right path. (Wisdom) & The gospel warns people away from God’s wrath.

Let’s Commit to Remembering Who Is With Us

Psalm 2:12 ESV

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

The Son has come into the world so that those who rages against God might not perish but become fellow heirs with him.

How do we know that he is with us?

We rest in his promises.

We ask for his filling.

We look for his power on display.

Let the voice of God flow through us into the world around us.

Psalm 29:4 “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.”

CONCLUSION

The key to our witness to the world is not just about our evangelism strategy and technique. It is not about how good we are at fitting the gospel into the culture. It is not about what we bring to the table. God fills his people with his power that we might be witnesses to his goodness to the ends of the earth.

Acts 4:13 ESV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Will the world recognize that we have been with Jesus?

Breathe on (us), breath of God, Till (we) are wholly thine, Till all (the) earthly part(s) of (us) glow with thy fire Divine.

Lord, we can plan and posture and program, but we cannot create this kind of testimony of your goodness without your Spirit’s presence and power among us. Please breath on us. Kindle the fire of your Spirit in our hearts so that we can follow you closely and proclaim your gospel with boldness and clarity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.