Counter-Attack
Acts of the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 58 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
In this section of Acts we will encounter three attacks that were set on the early church, we will find out what they were and how the church was able to come off victorious.
Before we go into these attacks, first we must make a connection between boldness supplied by the Holy Spirit and how it relates with ministry.
What is the basic mark of being filled with the Spirit? Boldness
Acts
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
1
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The work of the Spirit is the opposite of the spirit of fear.
If the opposite of the work of the Spirit is fearfulness, then the mark of a spirit-filled life would of course be fearlessness.
But how does the Holy Spirit make us fearless in our witnessing?
reveals that the basis of possessing boldness is having the assurance that we ourselves are indeed the children of God.
This assurance was the same of Christ in His ministry when at the beginning the Father declared from heaven “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
It is a deep assurance of the Father’s love for us personally through Christ that gives us Spirit-boldness to witness for Him.
This boldness was revealed in two forms:
Boldness in word. ; .
Boldness in deed. . The generosity of the early believers in sharing their goods and wealth was an evidence of being filled with the Spirit.
They had no fear in giving for they had all things in common and they believed that God would supply all their needs.
They had no fear of lacking a personal financial “cushion” for their own emergencies.
They had no fear of their gifts being used inappropriately.
They had no fear of having less disposable income for their own comforts and pleasure.
How do we see word-witness and deed-witness relate in the early church?
Acts 4:
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
The great power of the apostles witness follows verse 32 of economical sharing and verse 31 “speaking the word of God with boldness.”
The apostles talked of the power of Christ’s resurrection, while the church embodied and demonstrated the reality of Christ’s resurrection with newness of heart, life, and relationships.
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
In we see several men chosen to lead in the churches practical ministry to the poor widows.
This ministry was one of the churches ministry of practical giving and service to the material needs of people.
As soon as this ministry is strengthened in , Luke adds, “and the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.
What we see here is that when there are practical actions of Christians for people in need, at the same time is demonstrated the truth and power of the gospel to change selfish hearts and to unselfish ones, and therefore many people believed in the words of the gospel spoken by the apostles.
These verses in even reveal that many priests were obedient to the faith.
Why?
Possibly because their hearts were convicted and melted when they saw these poor believers doing the work that God had enjoined Israel and especially the priests to do in defending the rights of the poor and unfortunate.
The relationship between word and deed are extremely close.
The preaching of the word produces faith, which in turn produces good works toward those in need.
On the other hand, practical ministry to others in need are evidences which God uses to open the hearts of people to the gospel (as seen in the works of healing in the ministry of Jesus and the disciples.
So the word-ministry leads to deed-ministry, and the deed-ministry leads to word-ministry.
3-
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: They are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: Your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
First Attack - Hypocrisy
First Attack - Hypocrisy
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Contrast to , where there was not only giving, but willing hearts, especially as seen in Barnabas (son of consolation/encouragement).
Ananias and Sapphira’s acts was in marked contrast to that of Barnabas for a few reasons, but the greatest contrast was their covetousness, not so much for the money, but for esteem and honour among the early believers.
Their sin boiled down to hypocrisy, and false piety.
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
It is quite possible that there is no greater sin to hurt the work and witness of the church than that of hypocrisy.
There is no more common complaint than “there are so many hypocrites in the church.”
G.K. Chesterton was reputed to have said, “the greatest argument against the truth of Christianity is the lives of Christians.”
Mahatma Gandhi was shrewd enough to tell missionaries: “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
This is perhaps the number one thing that has made Gandhi reject Christianity!
People will say, “if the gospel is true - How is that so many supposed Christians are so dishonest and cruel?”
Spiritual pride and hypocrisy are greater sins to be feared by the church than sins that are usually met with swift discipline and expulsion such as murder, and adultery.
If Ananias and Sapphira were allowed to continue their hypocrisy and gain advantage and esteem among the early Christian church, they may well have corrupted the church with their false values and made the church a legalistic place.
How can we fall into the same trap?
The real issue was that they were posing to be these “spiritual giants”, while the whole time they were actually struggling with sins of pride and covetousness.
If they had come into the church confessing their sins and struggles, surely help and sympathy would have been provided. Remember that it was not that long ago that the disciples themselves had struggled with these same sins!
The real heinous character of hypocrisy is a refusal to humble itself in confession and repentance.
And so we can fall into the same trap as Ananias and Sapphira if we come into the community of God without a willingness to be humble of our frailties and willingness to be held accountable by our brothers and sisters.
How can we avoid this trap?
Informally, by being accountable to others.
Formally, by upholding church discipline as a means to save those who have committed open sins, and also to serve as a warning to other believers.
We are to do this in the manner presented:
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
gal
Second Attack - Persecution
Second Attack - Persecution
1. Acts 5:12:42
Third Attack - Division & “Burn Out”
Third Attack - Division & “Burn Out”
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.