Response to persecution

TITLE:  Response to persecution

Text:  Acts 4:23-37

OBJECTIVE:  It is my objective to show that we must bless those who persecute us and care for those who are being persecuted.

QUESTIONS:

Do you know how to pray?

Will someone criticize you when you pray?

How do People know you are a Christian?

What is your attitude when all falls apart?

Do people know you are a Christian?

Know you are Christians by your love

John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How do you respond when tests and trials come?

      Badder or Better

I.  Prayer and Praise  Acts 4:23-31

How should you respond to persecution?

Proverbs—don’t laugh when God punishes your enemy

Proverbs 24:17-18 ESV Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

James 1:2-6 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

      A.  Reported to the people

            1.  Communication to the People

            2.  Told the People what the leaders said

            3.  Prayed and rejoiced

                  a.  Tied Scripture with their prayers

                  b.  John 15 7

                  c.  Went back to the Old Testament

                        Psalm 2:1-2

            4.  Explained what happened

      B.  Christians always return to their own company

1.  1 John 2:19 ESV They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

2.  They did not lament and complain about the persecution

      C.  Request for Boldness  v. 29-30

1.  Prayed for boldness and God answered with the filling of the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 ESV And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

2.  We can have boldness on earth because we are given boldness in heaven

Hebrews 4:16 ESV Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10:19 ESV Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

            3.  Let others see the Greatness of Jesus Christ

            4.  Let people continue to come to Jesus

                  a.  Let it be that all who see will come to Jesus

b.  Let people be healed and freed to serve Jesus Christ

            5.  Act 4:4—5000 men saved

      D.  Result of this attitude

            1.  Place was shaken

            2.  All saw the Greatness of God

      E.  Speaking with Great boldness

1.  Do we need persecution so that we will again focus on Jesus

            2.  Trials causes bitterness or betterness

II.  Cared for one another

      A.  Great Unity—Result of Spirit filling

      B.  Great Care of one another

C.  They gave to meet the needs of others

1.  Function or form

2.  Sell all their goods to give to the needs of others

3.  Sharing of Goods was a temporary occurrence

            D.  Filling of the Spirit brought caring for each other

            1.  Meeting each others needs

                  --had all in common

                  --sold all their goods

                  --Gave to the needs of others

Should we sell our goods and give to the needs of others

            2.  Examples of giving:

Acts 11:27-30 ESV Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Romans 15:26 ESV For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 16:1-3 ESV Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 ESV We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—

2 Corinthians 9:2 ESV for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

Pattern of New Testament giving

2 Cor 8-9

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-13 ESV For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Ultimate example of Giving:  John 3:16

What do you own? 

Who really owns it