What Do We Do Now?
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
This morning we are picking back up in our study of the Book of Acts.
If you’re new to our church it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what the Bible means in our lives to do.
With that said, we are currently doing that through the book of Acts:
A book of the Bible that details the beginning days of the church.
A book of the Bible that introduces the primary mission of the church. A mission to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A book of the Bible that introduces us to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The empowerment that will enable the church to accomplish its mission.
A book of the Bible that teaches us how to function in the power of the Holy Spirit.
A book of the Bible that has the power and potential to transform and realign the direction of any church that is willing to embrace it.
A book fo the Bible that is already transforming and changing our church.
And I know this to be true because we are beginning to experience the affects of this study here at Marysville Christian Fellowship.
We’re experiencing it on Wednesday nights as nearly 100 people have been coming to the prayer meeting asking the Lord to empower them for ministry.
To be honest, when I left church last week, I’ve never left church so
We saw it last Sunday morning as 35 people boldly proclaimed, “We’re all in” and were water baptized.
We’re seeing it throughout the week as people share the Gospel in their workplaces and throughout the community and as more and more people are hearing the good news of the Gospel and putting their faith in Jesus.
Listen church I’m telling you right now, we are in the midst of a move of God. The book of Acts is happening at Marysville Christian Fellowship. The Holy Spirit is being poured out and God is at work!
Listen, I have to be honest with you, I didn’t want to leave church last week. It was beyond amazing to watch lives literally being transformed right in front of us. To watch as the Holy Spirit went to work drawing people to Jesus. We got to be a part of that! Church, the book of Acts happened right in front of us last week. The Holy Spirit is being poured out and God is at work!
What a privilege we all have to be in a place where God is working in such a tangible way.
I’m just telling you right now, this doesn’t happen in every church. And when I say that, I’m not saying that we are something special or that we’re better than other churches. Not saying that all. But what I am saying is, when a church or a group of people decides to be “all in”, this is what happens. When a church says, “Jesus, We’re all in!” God responds and says, “Ok, let’s go. Let’s get to work as He pours His Spirit and people start getting saved and baptized. “
And MCF, that’s what we did last week. That’s what we’ve been doing at the prayer meetings. That’s what we’ve been doing as we started this series. We’ve come to a place as a church where we’ve said we’re either all in or we’re not. And for a church that wants to be all in, God says, “Ok, let’s go. Let’s get to work as he pours his Spirit on those people.”
All that to say, last week was off the charts and was the catalyst for what I believe God wants to do in and through our church. I believe the best days of our church are still to come! And I pray that you believe that as well.
The question then is, “Where do we go from here?” In other words, how do we keep last week alive? How do we keep moving forward in this direction? How do we encourage those who got baptized to keep moving forward? What are our next steps?
That’s a great question. And the good news this morning is, God’s Word tells us. Because as the first disciples came off the initial high of the outpouring of the Spirit. As they celebrated the 3000 people who came to faith and were baptized, they took some crucial next steps that we need to take as well.
And really they weren’t next steps as much as they were practices.
And when I say practices, I’m talking about the ongoing commitments or disciplines that are necessary to maintain a certain direction or momentum in your life.
So, to help us understand what I mean by practices, let me put it in terms we can maybe all identify with by giving you a couple of scenerios.
Let me explain what I mean like this.
For example, think of it in terms of an NFL football team who has just won the Super Bowl. That’s an exciting moment, right? And I know that’s hard to imagine for those of you that are Chiefs fans, since that hasn’t happened since 1970, but trust me, it’s an exciting moment. A moment of joy, happiness, and celebration.
Think for a moment how you felt when your favorite football team won the Super bowl. And I know that’s hard to imagine for those of you that are Chiefs fans, since that hasn’t happened since 1970. So for you, just imagine what a super bowl win might feel like. That’s an exciting moment, right? A moment of joy, happiness, and celebration.
So, let me ask you this, “After the Super Bowl win, how does that team keep moving forward? How do they move from the Super Bowl win to hopefully another Super Bowl win sometime in the future?”
They do it by continuing to practice, right? Yeah, they’ve won Super Bowl, but they keep doing what it takes to win again. So, what do they do?
Well, they keep up their conditioning by going to the gym in order to stay in shape.
They keep showing up for practice as they run practice plays and fine tune their skills .
They keep watching game film so they can better anticipate the opposing team.
They keep showing up for practice and run practice plays in order to fine tune their skills .
Or think about a moment when you experienced a huge win in your life. Maybe it was a promotion at work. Maybe it was your high school or college graduation. A moment where you couldn’t get the smile of satisfaction off your face.
They continue to institute practices into their life that will help them achieve another big win.
They keep watching game film so they can better anticipate the opposing team.
They continue to institute practices into their life that will help them achieve another big win.
And what is true for a winning football team is true for a church as well.
Or moms and dads, think about that moment when you first child was born. A moment when inexpressible joy filled your heart and you celebrated new life.
I think if we think about it, we’ve all had a moment like that.
That’s an exciting moment, right? A moment of celebration and excitement. A moment of joy and happiness.
So, let me ask you this. What do you do after that moment? What do you do after the big game? What
Can I submit to you that what you do is you keep practicing. You keep
Well, to And if you were here last Sunday, you definitely experienced it. I know I did. Because last Sunday was like a Super Bowl win as 35 people said, “We’re all in”. I don’t know about you, but I left here on a high. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Through the week I kept reflecting back on it. We had a superbowl win last Sunday. God showed up and the enemy was defeated!
And if you were here last Sunday, you definitely experienced it. I know I did. Because last Sunday was like a Super Bowl win as 35 people said, “We’re all in”. I don’t know about you, but I left here on a high. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Through the week I kept reflecting back on it. We had a superbowl win last Sunday. God showed up and the enemy was defeated!
So, let me ask you this, in a moment like that, what does the football team need to do in order to move forward? What does the person who go the job promotion do? What are we supposed to do as we come off our win?
So,, in a moment like that, how does a team move forward? What do you do in order to prepare for another big win?
Well, you do what any team would do, you keep practicing. You keep preparing. You keep doing what it takes to win again.
Well, you do what any team would do, you keep practicing. You keep preparing. You keep doing what it takes to
Because the fact is, last week was a Spiritual Super Bowl win for MCF. Last week the enemy got his behind handed to him as God showed up, poured out his Spirt, and 35 people proclaimed, “We’re all in”.
I don’t know about you, but I left here on a high. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I wanted to high five people on the way out. And through the week the excitement continued. And even today I’m still excited and amazed by what happened. We had a super bowl win last Sunday. God showed up and the enemy was defeated!
And just like a football team who has won the Super Bowl, while it’s ok to celebrate, while it’s ok to enjoy the moment, if we want to see another big win, we have to keep practicing. We have to stay committed to some key disciplines of spiritual growth.
So, what are those key practices? What is it we need to be committed to doing?
That’s what Luke is going to show us this morning. And to do that he’s going to give us three key practice routines of the early church that helped them keep the ball moving forward and prepare for another big win.
So, here’s what we are going to do.
First, we’re going to read through the passage.
Second, we’re going to identify those key practices.
And lastly I’m going to give you some challenges to respond to.
So, let’s begin as we come back to Acts and Luke introduce us to these post Super Bowl practices. Beginning in verse 42 Luke writes:
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42
Luke says following the big win, the early church instituted three major practices. And what I want you to notice first is they didn’t just institute them, Luke says they were devoted to them. So, let’s start there.
The word for devoted here comes from the Greek word, “eimi”. It’s the idea of continuing to do something with intense effort despite the difficulty one might encounter.
When I think of this word, I think of the person who is devoted or committed to climbing and reaching the peak of Mount Everest. Because in order to do that a person has to be devoted, right. I mean it’s not just something you kind of sorta decide to do. It’s something that takes preparation, dedication and an ongoing commitment despite the challenges you might face on the journey.
Because if you listen to the interviews of those who have climbed it, there were moments when they wanted to quit. Moments when they wanted to turn back or give up. But they didn’t. Why? Because they were devoted to reaching the peak. They had this continuing intense dedication despite the difficulties they faced. In other words, their devotion overrode the difficulty of the climb.
So, what does that tell us about the practices that Luke is about to introduce us to? It tells us a couple of things.
First it tells us that these aren’t easy practices. In other words, what these first disciples did to keep the ball moving forward took commitment. It’s something they had to be devoted too or they just might quit doing it. So it took some continuing intentional effort on their part. These practices would at times be difficult.
Second, it tells us these are the practices it takes to reach the peak. In other words, there isn’t an easier way to make the climb. There’s not an easier path or a path of less resistance. If you want to reach the peak, this is what you have to be devoted too. You have to be devoted to these specific practices.
So, what are the practices? What do we do now that we are “all in”? Here’s the first one that Luke gives us.
So, what are these practices? Here’s the first one that Luke gives us. In order to keep moving the ball forward:
We have to be devoted to Biblical instruction and teaching.
Luke writes, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching...”
Luke says following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the first Christians committed themselves to studying and learning the scriptures.
Luke says they were “devoted” to the apostles’ teaching. Here’s what I want you to notice first.
Notice, Luke doesn’t say they were devoted to keeping the rituals. He doesn’t say they were devoted to keeping the traditions. He doesn’t say they were devoted to a certain denomination or religious doctrine. Luke says they were devoted to studying and learning the Apostle’s teaching.
The question then is, “What was the Apostles teaching?” More than likely it included the teachings of Jesus that they had sat under for the past three years. In addition to that it would have involved teachings and instruction from the OT that would have supported the plan of redemption that came through Jesus.
You see, what you have to understand is from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is about God’s plan of redemption for mankind, and Jesus is the star of that plan. He’s the promised redeemer. He’s the one that God sent to save us from our sins. So part of the Apostle’s teaching would have included an explanation of that plan.
We know this to be true, because right after his resurrection, Jesus instructed and showed two of his disciples how the scriptures pointed to Him. Listen to what Luke tells us in :
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:
Luke says from Genesis through the OT Jesus showed them how it was all about Him.
We’ll also see this type of instruction through a disciple named Philip in . In this passage an Ethiopian is reading a passage of scripture from the OT book of Isaiah. And not understanding what the passage means, he asks Philip to explain it. Listen to how Luke says Philip handled it:
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Luke says starting with the passage from Isaiah, Philip is able to tell him about Jesus.
All that to say, the Apostle’s teaching would have included the teachings of Jesus along with Biblical support from the OT for who Jesus is and what He came to do.
So, a good question would be, “What does this mean for us?”
What it means is our teaching and instruction should come from the same source and be based on the same foundation. In other words, our understanding of salvation and spiritual growth should be based on the Bible and on a relationship with Jesus.
And herein lies the challenge for many in the church today. Because the truth is, it’s a lot easier to base our faith on following a ritual, keeping traditions, or joining a certain church than it is to study and learn what the Bible actually says. And if we do that, we’ll lose out spiritual momentum.
It then comes to fruition as a virgin gives birth to a baby named Jesus.
And herein lies the challenge for many who want to grow in a relationship with God. Because the truth is, it’s a lot easier to follow a ritual, keep a tradition, or join a certain church than it is to study and learn God’s Word.
Why is that? For two reasons:
You see, just like today, the early Christians faced
#1, rituals and traditions typically don’t require a lot of effort to teach or follow.
For example, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to read a prayer. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to follow a service format. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to repeat a reading. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to put 45 minutes in at a service. Like any repeated habit, it just becomes an effortless routine in our lives. Something we could do in our sleep. We just show up, put in our time, go through the rituals, go home, and we’re good.
#2, rituals and traditions typically don’t challenge us or grow us beyond a certain point. I mean think about it. Because it’s an effortless routine or ritual, it never pushes us or creates resistance in our life.
For example, it’s like the person who goes to the gym, does the same exercise routine, but never adds any weight or resistance to their lifts. I see this a lot in the gym. I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s good that their there, but it’s obvious they don’t know what their doing and haven’t received any instruction. So they just kind of wonder around, go through a little routine and leave. And because they haven’t been instructed, and because they never add extra weight, they never encounter resistance, and in the end their body stays the same.
And that’s what a lot of people do in the church today. They show up, they sit in the same seat, read the same prayer, perform the same ritual, encounter little resistance, and then leave. They put in their ritualistic spiritual workout and then head home. A the result is they never grow past a certain point spiritually. They get stuck in a ritual or routine that is doing nothing for them.
But if you’re going to be “All in”, you have to be willing to push past rituals and tradition. And that’s where the Word of God comes in.
So, if you want to just maintain,
Because a focus on teaching and learning the Word of God is an entirely different story. Why? Because unlike rituals and tradition, the Word of God of God engages us, challenges us, and changes us.
The two disciples that encountered Jesus after his resurrection experienced this. Listen to what they said to each other after Jesus explained the scriptures to them.
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Luke 24
As Jesus explained the scriptures to them it lit their heart on fire. It challenged them. It ignited something inside of them. Because that’s what God’s Word does. It engages us, challenges us, and changes us. The writer of Hebrew describes it like this:
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The writer says God’s Word has the ability to penetrate our hearts. It is able to weave its way into the hidden chambers of our soul. It has the ability to uncover us, stretch us, move us, and grow us.
It does what no ritual or tradition can do. God’s Word confronts us with truth, forces us to consider change, and provides the Holy Spirit with an opportunity to transform us.
And that’s why at MCF, we make the teaching and instruction of God’s Word a priority. Because we understand its transformational power.
And many of you know what I’m talking about. That’s why some of you feel uncomfortable when I’m preaching. That’s why Jill Fridriechs said in her baptism video she gets her feet stomped on. That’s why some of you think I’m talking directly to you, and you wonder, “How did Pastor Brad know I was struggling with that? How did Pastor Brad know that was true of me? Is he reading my mail? Did he see that text message? Has he been in my internet search history?”
That’s why some of you even get angry during the sermon and think, “Who does he think he is saying that to me? How dare he tell me the way I’m living is wrong. How dare he say that about my ritual? How dare he question my tradition.”
Can I just tell you, it’s not me stomping, it’s not me challenging you or revealing that too you. It’s God’s word. Because that’s what it does. The writer of Hebrews says:
It’s sharper than any two-edged sword. Meaning, it has the ability to get inside of you.
It divides soul and spirit. Meaning, it knows how to cut through your hidden layers.
It has the ability to pierce and divide your soul and spirit. It has the ability to discern the thoughts and intentions of your heart. It puts you through a workout that at times is painful. It pushes and pulls us in ways we don’t like to be pulled. But in the end it leaves us stronger.
It deserns the thoughts and intentions of your heart. Meaning, it has the ability to see what has been hidden and nobody else can see. What your spouse can’t see. What your friends can’t see.
It puts you through a workout that at times is painful. It pushes and pulls us in ways we don’t like to be pulled. In convicts us, challenges us, and grows us. And in the end it leaves us stronger.
And as it undoes you, it puts you through a workout that at times is painful. It pushes and pulls us in ways we don’t like to be pulled. In convicts us, challenges us, and grows us.
The Word of God can do what no ritual or tradition could ever do.
And please hear me, when I say that, I’m not saying rituals or traditions aren’t important. The truth is, rituals and traditions are great reminders of what is important. Rituals and traditions remind us of who Jesus is and what He did.
But they don’t have the power to change us. They don’t have the power to transform us. The only thing that can do that is God’s Word.
And that’s why the first Christians made it a practice to study God’s Word and why we should as well. That’s why if you attend MCF for very long, you’re going to learn quickly that we don’t get fixated on rituals and traditions. Like the early church, we are devoted to teaching and learning God’s Word. Because at the end of the day, that’s what’s going to challenge and grow us. That’s what the Holy Spirit is going to use to shapen us and shape us more and more into the image of Jesus. No ritual or tradition can do that.
You see, if you want to be “All in”, you have to be devoted to God’s Word.
And as a result of this focus,
This leads us to a second practice of the early church. For those who are “all in”:
But the Word of God is another story. Because being devoted to studying God’s word takes effort. It requires you to do more than read. It requires you to make extra time. It requires you to be focused. It requires you to do more than just show up for church.
2. We have to be devoted to Christian fellowship.
Luke writes, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread...” (ESV)
Couple of things I want to point out here. First, I want you to notice they were breaking bread together. The idea here is that they were eating together.
Couple of things I want you to notice here. First, the word fellowship. The translation for fellowship here comes from the Greek word “Koinonia”. It’s the idea of associations that involve close mutual relations and involvement.
In addition to that, the Word of God brings resistance in our life. When studied, it challenges what we believe. It forces us to look at ourselves. I convicts us
In a way, you could think of this in terms of a sports team. For example, an NFL football team consists of players who associate closely with one another for a mutual goal as they strive together to win a Super Bowl.
In a way, you could think of this in terms of a sports team. For example, an NFL football team consists of players who associate closely with one another for a mutual goal as they strive together to win a Super Bowl.
And so because they have this common goal, they make it a point to meet and practice daily. They make it a point to challenge and encourage one another. And because of their close association and their common goal, something relationally begins to take place as they move from friends to family.
In fact, one sports writer puts it like this, “Football is more than just a game - it’s a bond, and it goes beyond the football field. “ He goes on to say, “Football takes that unspoken bond to the next level when players become accountable for each other, challenging each other on and off the field. They ultimately become family.”
The truth is, wining football teams are built on “koinonia”. And what is true for a winning football team must be true for a church.
Second, I want you to notice they were breaking bread together. In other words, they ate together. Why is this important? It’s important because that’s what a family does. They sit down together. They spend time together. To be honest, there’s nothing like food that brings a family together.
I mean think about it. What do families do on the holidays? They get together and “eat”. And as we eat we talk and we share our lives together.
The first Christians took their relationships seriously. They made time for one another. They spent time together.
And the truth is, if a church is going to achieve Spiritual super bowl wins, it has to be made up of a group of people who are devoted at a level just like this.
Now, you might be thinking, “Ok pastor, that sounds great. But why is that so important for a church?” I would say it’s important for a couple of key reasons:
#1 - Christian Fellowship makes you a part of the team.
The fact is, now that you’re a Christian, you share a common goal with billions of other Christians, and in our case, around 800 who call MCF their church home.
So, if you’re all in, this is the team you’re on. Because the truth is, the church isn’t a building. The church is a group of like minded Christ followers who share the gospel mission. It’s the people in this room.
The early church understood that. They understood if they were going to advance the gospel, they could only do it with like minded people who have the same focus and goal. So, if you want to be on the team, it begins by fellowshipping with fellow teammates.
The writer of Hebrews puts li
And to be honest, that’s why church attendance and church involvement is so important. Because it creates an opportunity for church members to come together for mutual benefit, support, and advancement. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The writer says showing up for church is a habit we shouldn’t neglect.
The writer of Hebrews says, “Don’t make it a habit of not going to church.”
You see the problem for a lot of Christians is they often see Church as an optional practice. Or they don’t see the importance of huddling together in a small group that meets during the week. Or they don’t see the importance of being involved in a ministry. For some reason, they think they can play the game outside of the rest of the team.
To be honest, that would be like a quarterback thinking he doesn’t need the rest of the team to win. Or a linebacker thinking he can take on the opposing offense all by himself.
And unfortunately Christians try and do it all the time. Instead of devoting themselves to Christian fellowship on Sunday, they devote themselves to going to the lake instead. Or they devote themselves to going to a sporting event. Or they devote themselves to extra sleep.
And please hear me, I’m not saying if you miss a Sunday or two, or if you’re not in a small group or on a ministry team that you’re not a Christian or part of the church.
What I’m saying though is if you’re not devoted to meeting and ministering with other believers on a consistent basis, it’s going to be difficult for you to be a key player on the team.
Difficult for you to follow the vision.
Difficult for you to feel a part of the church.
Difficult for you to engage in what is happening.
Difficult for you to be “All In”>
Listen, I don’t say this to make anybody feel bad, because I know some of you couldn’t be here last week for legitimate reasons. But if you could have been here last week, and you decided to skip church, you missed one of the most exciting, unifying, and encouraging services MCF has ever had. Last week we experienced a supernatural moment at MCF.
Because last week, just like the writer of Hebrews says
And that doesn’t mean your a bad Christian or a bad person for not begin here. But what I hope it reminds you of is if you want to be a part of what God is doing in a church, then you have to be present. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to “hear” about what God is doing. I don’t want somebody to say to me, “Did you hear what happened?” No, I want to be a part of what God is doing. But for that to happen, you have to be present.
Christian fellowship gives us the opportunity to be present and to be a part of what God is doing in and through His church.
#2 - Christian Fellowship guards us against harmful relationships.
#2 - Christian Fellowship keeps us away from the wrong people.
I once heard a quote that goes something like this, “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll show you what your future will be.”
What that person is saying is, “The friendships you invest in will determine the kind of person you become.”
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the
And that is true, true, true. In fact, the Bible actually says that. In , Solomon writes:
companion of
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
fools will suffer harm
.”
Solomon says, “Listen, you want to become a wise person? You want to become a person that makes good decisions? You want to become a person that is going in the right direction? Then make sure you surround yourself with the right people. Because if you don’t, you will suffer harm.”
(
And that’s what Christian Fellowship provides you with. It surrounds you with people who are not only on the same path, but will help keep you on the right path.
To be honest, this is where I see a lot of Christians go off the tracks as they surround themselves with people going in a different direction. People who aren’t “all in”.
So, how do you know if you’re going in the right direction or if you have the right friends? You can do it by asking yourself a simple question. The question is, “Are the friendships I’m devoted to helping me to grow spiritually?”
And when I say “friendships”, I’m talking about the people in your life that you’re closest to.
“friendships”,
I’m
referring to
the people in your life
you are closest to:
-
The friends from whom you seek
counsel and
advice.
-
The friends
you
invite in
to
The friends you seek advice and counsel from.
your home,
hang out with
,
and spend
time with
on the weekend
s
.
-
The friends
who you share the intimate details of your life with.
Those are the friendships I’m referring to.
Because t
he truth is, we all
The friends you invite to your home and spend time with on the weekends.
have
friendships like that.
The question though is
,
“Are those friends
he
lping you grow spiritually?
The friends you share the intimate details of your life with.
”
In other words,
“
Have you surrounded
Those are the friendships I’m talking about. And the truth is we all have friendships like that. The question though is, “Are those friendships helping you grow spiritually? Are those friendships leading you closer to Jesus or further from Him?”
yourself with friends who are leading you into a growing relationship
Because the truth is, your friendships are either leading you to Jesus or away from Jesus. They are either challenging you to be “all in” or “all out”.
with Jesus, or have you surrounded yourself with friends who are
Listen to what Solomon says happens when you choose the wrong friendship:
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
leading you away from Jesus?”
Proverbs
Solomon says, “Here’s the problem. When you choose the wrong friendships, you end up going in the wrong direction.” In his example, when you befriend an angry person, you end up becoming an angry person. You end up adopting their bad behaviors as their anger rubs off on you.
The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Paul says, “The wrong people cause you to lose ground.”
So, as you evaluate your friendships, a good question to ask yourself would be, “Do I want to become like them?” Because the closer you get to them, the more like them you’ll become.
So, if you’re “all in”. If you’re going to follow Jesus, then it would probably be a good idea to surround yourself with people who are “all in “ as well.
In fact, the Bible actually says that. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
Paul says it’s a bad idea to bring yourself into close association with non-believers. In fact, Paul says it’s like trying to bring light and darkness together. It just won’t work.
Now when I say that, that almost sounds exclusive, like we are better than them. That if I’m “all in” they’re “all out”.
But that’s not what I’m saying. I’m not saying you can’t be friendly or be a friend to a non-believer.
So, does that mean we can’t be friends with somebody that’s not a Christian? Does that mean since I’m “all in” that they’re “all out”?
But what I am saying is they can’t be your closest friend. You can’t be in a “kononia” relationship with them. Why?
Because if you’re “all in”, then you’re no longer living for this world, but the next. If you’re “all in”, you’re no longer living for yourself, but for Him. If you’re “all in”, then you no longer share the same values the world shares. Now that you’re “all in”, friendship with the world will be an impossibility.
No, I’m not saying you can’t be friendly or a friend to a lost person. But what I am saying is they can’t be your close friend. They can’t be in a “kononia” relationship with you. Why? Because your worldview is no longer their worldview. You’re no longer living for this world, but the next. You’re no longer living for you, but for Him.
Jesus puts it like this:
13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
The Gospel writer Matthew says this:
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
You see, now that you’re “all in”, friendship with the world is impossible because you’re no longer compatible. Your values, morals, beliefs, worldview, passions, and desires have all changed. They are now the opposite of the worlds. And the world isn’t going to tolerate it. You’re wordly friends aren’t going to be ok with it.
And the truth is, if you’re really “all in” you won’t have to worry about de-friending anyone. Because they’re going to de-friend you. In their eyes you’re going to be “all out”. Because darkness and light can’t dwell together. And I would say this is the hardest part of leaving the old life. Because when you leave your old life and the old you dies, old friendships die as well.
And so Christian Fellowship now provides friendships with people who are just like you. People that are “all in”. People who share your faith and will help keep you on the right path.
Again, another great reason to attend church consistently, join a life group, or be on a ministry team. Because this is the place where Christian fellowship and friendship can be found. Friendships that will help you lead you closer to Jesus and not further away.
One more reason Christian fellowship is important.
One more reason Christian fellowship is important.
#3 - Christian fellowship protects us from the enemy.
The Apostle Peter writes this:
“friendships”,
I’m
referring to
the people in your life
you are closest to:
-
The friends from whom you seek
counsel and
advice.
-
The friends
you
invite in
to
your home,
hang out with
,
and spend
time with
on the weekend
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
s
.
-
The friends
who you share the intimate details of your life with.
Those are the friendships I’m referring to.
Because t
he truth is, we all
have
friendships like that.
The question though is
,
“Are those friends
he
lping you grow spiritually?
”
In other words,
“
Have you surrounded
yourself with friends who are leading you into a growing relationship
with Jesus, or have you surrounded yourself with friends who are
leading you away from Jesus?”
The fact of the matter is, now that you’re all in, the enemy is going to try and take you out. Why? Because he saw what happened last Sunday. He saw you get in that tank. He saw you cheering for those that did. So, don’t think for one moment that he’s going to standby and do nothing about it.
In fact, we are just a few verses away from persecution breaking out against the church in . Because as the gospel went out. As people were saved and baptized. The enemy started to go to work.
And this is one of the reasons Christian fellowship is so important. Because without Christian fellowship, you’re left to face the enemy on your own.
Think of it like this. Have you ever seen one of those documentaries on African lions? And in the documentary it shows you how the lion hunts its prey. Have you ever noticed what their main strategy for attack is? Its strategy is to separate its prey from the rest of the herd. To get a poor gazelle out in the open alone. Why? Because by itself, the gazelle has no protection. By itself, the gazelle is left defenseless outside of the herd.
And what is true for a lions prey is true for the Christian.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Peter says Satan is like a prowling lion. He’s seeking someone to devour. He’s looking for that lone Christian, that loan couple, who doesn’t think they need to be in church. Who doesn’t think they need Christian fellowship. That’s who he’s looking for.
The fact of the matter is, when it comes to the enemy, there is safety in numbers. Because what the devil wants more than anything is to get you isolated. To get you in a place where you don’t have support. A place where you don’t have encouragement. A place where you’re trying to figure things out on your own. He wants to get you away from your church family so he can do his worst.
What we’re going to discover in the book of Acts is when the early believers faced persecution, they didn’t face it alone, they faced it together. In fact, after one of the first major persecutions in the early church, listen to how Peter and John responded after being threatened.
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
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.
After being threatened to not preach the Gospel anymore, notice who Peter and John went to. They went to their “friends”. To their church family. And in doing so they found support and encouragement.
Acts 4:38-31
At the end of the day, if we’re going to be “all in”, we have to be “all in” with people who share our faith and belief.
This leads us to the final practice. If we’re going to be “All in”:
3. We have to be devoted to prayer.
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.
Luke writes, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking o f bread and the prayers.” (ESV)
Luke says the first disciples were devoted to prayer. Why? Because they understood where the source of their strength came from. They understood in order to keep moving forward, they had to keep going back to the source of the fuel.
In fact, there’s an example of this in , because after being threatened not to share the gospel, not only did Peter and John go find their friends, but they spent time praying. Listen to what happened next:
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.
Acts 4:
Luke says after praying together, God refilled them with His Spirit.
Here’s the deal church. In order to keep moving forward, we have to keep getting refilled. We have to keep going back to the source of our empowerment.
You see the problem for a lot of Christians is they think it’s a one time fill up. But it’s not. It’s a continual filling that comes as we continually seek the Lord for His empowerment. And prayer is the conduit for that empowerment.
Think of it like this. What do you do when your car needs more fuel to keep going? You go to the pump, you put the hose in the car, and you fill it with fuel, right?
It’s the same with our faith journey. The fact is, we can’t keep going forward without getting refueled. So what do we do? We go to the gas station, which in our case is God. We put the hose in the tank, which in our case is prayer. And we get filled with fuel, which in our case is the Holy Spirit.
So, if we want to keep moving forward, we have to go to the source of power and we have to pray so He can fill us back up.
I’m going to be honest with you. Last Sunday wasn’t the result of great preaching. It wasn’t the result of great worship. It wasn’t anything we did. Last Sunday was the result of prayer. It was the result of 80 people for four weeks coming to the Wednesday night prayer meeting and asking God to fill us. Asking God to pour His Spirit out upon us. And last Sunday God responded to our prayers.
Church, if we’re going to be “all in” and we want to continue to see God work, we have to be devoted to prayer.
So, there you have it. Those are the three key practices of the early church. Now, at this point, you might be wondering, “Ok pastor, that sounds great. So, if we do that, where will that take us and what can we expect to happen?”
Luke tells us. Because as they disciples were devoted to these three practices, Luke writes:
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Luke says as the disciples devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer, four results took place:
Acts 2:43-
First, because of their devotion, signs and wonders took place. What kind of signs and wonders? All kinds, but mostly healings. We’ll see the first of these miracle take place in chapter 3.
Second, through their fellowship they developed a strong love and concern for one another. As a result, nobody went without. If somebody needed some groceries, somebody went to Walmart. If somebody lacked resources, somebody provided it. In fact, Luke says some of the people even sold their possessions to help one another. Why would they do that? Because that’s what family does. Family takes care of family.
Third, they found favor with the people. In other words, outsiders liked what they saw happening. it peaked their curiosity. It made them want to be a part of it as well. Which led to the last result.
Fourth, the Lord added to their number day by day those sho were being saved. In other words, a lot of people started putting their faith in Jesus.
I don’t know about you church, but I want those kind of results. I want to see miracles. I want to become a family that takes care of one another. I want to be a beacon of hope in this community. I want to see more and more people put their faith in Jesus. I want what happened last Sunday to be a normal occurence.
That being the case, I want to close by giving you three challenges.
Devoted to God’s Word
Devoted to one another.
Devoted to seeking God for continual help and empowerment.
So, that being the case, I want to close by giving you three challenges.
Challenge #1 - Don’t be devoted to rituals, instead be devoted to learning and implementing God’s Word.
The truth is, some of you still struggle with putting your stock in ritual and tradition. But can I challenge you this morning to stop focusing on the ritual and start focusing on the truth of God’s Word. Because here’s the deal. Your ritual isn’t going to challenge or transform you, but God’s Word can. God’s Word has that kind of power. But you have to embrace it. You have to let it cut you. You have to let it open you up and expose what only God can heal.
Like I said, rituals and tradition remind us of what’s important, but they don’t have the power to transform us. Only God’s word can do that.
Challenge #2 - Be more committed to Church attendance.
One of the statements I hear Christians often say is, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian”. And that’s true, you don’t. But you want to know what is also true, “If you want to keep being a Christian, you have to go to church.”
You see, here’s the deal. As a follower of Christ, you were designed to be in fellowship with other Christians. You’re a body part in the body.
And when you decide to go outside of that design and cut yourself off from the body, you put yourself in a position that works against your faith. You put yourself around the wrong people. You put yourself in a position for the enemy to take you out. The truth is, the less you are a part of the fellowship of believers, the more likely your going to drop off the map completely.
I see it happen all the time. Somebody misses a Sunday, then two, and before you know it they developed the habit of not meeting with other believers. Then they wonder why life gets so hard. They wonder why they feel alone. They wonder why their new friends are brining them down.
You see, the fact is, God knew we’d need a place to find support and encouragement. So He gave us the church. He gave us one another.
Challenge #3 - Be at the Wednesday night prayer meeting this week.
This Wednesday we are meeting for prayer from 7:00-8:00PM. I’m asking you to make it a pirority to be here as we seek the Lord together. Listen, I’m telling you, we won’t be able to keep our momentum if we aren’t willing to pray. Prayer is the condiut through which God fills us back up with His Spirit. If you need a fresh filling of God’s Spirit in your life, then be here Wednesday night.
I don’t know about you church, but I wan to see more of last week. But for that to happen, we have to pray.
Luke writes:
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Let’s Pray
Let’s Pray
#3 - Christian Fellowship
34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus says one of the key characteristics of a Christian is their love for one another. In fact, he says this will be the defining characteristic that determines whether you’re a disciple or not.
And the truth is, the only way you develop love for someone is by spending time with them. That’s true, right? Because the more you get to know someone, the more you begin to care about them. The more you’re willing to help them. The more you