Untitled Sermon

Pioneers

As I was preparing for this morning text I wasn’t looking for a Thanksgiving sermon, but one came and found me. I’m not going to talk this morning on being thankful, although I believe that is the corner stone to Christianity. Without Thankfulness one begins to wonder what they could have if…and that statement alone has caused many elite to stray from path of Christ set before them.

But thinking about our text this morning and about the word Pioneer. I am brought to mind Christopher Columbus—one of the most foolish Pioneers and yet most celebrated. As I stated before Christopher Columbus accidently found the United States as we know it. He was searching for something else, but God had a different plan. Isn’t though, truly like God to reveal himself to us while we were on the road lost and looking for something else?

Two weeks ago we talked about Jealousy and Persecution. Peter and John were again put in Jail, this time a public prision because they preached the word of God. An angel came in the night and let them out. They were charged by the angel to return where they were taken from and that they were to continue preaching God’s full truth. The next day men were sent to bring them out of jail only to realize that they were gone and were preaching where they were when found the night before.

The Sanhedrin brought them back and this is where we are in Verse 27

Acts 5:27–32 ESV

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 5:27

I love Peter’s response to their charge. They are asked Why do not listen to us? and his response is important. Remember the bible tells us to obey those who are placed in charge over us UNLESS it contradicts the word of God.

The Angel, God’s messenger, gave them marching orders from God to continue in their endeavor and to preach the whole truth. Peter then laid the responsibility of Jesus’ death for the third time now, at the Sanhedrin’s feet.But this next line struck me and as I was preparing for this mornings message, I couldn’t shake it.

Acts 5:31 ESV

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

If you heard me preach before you heard me state that, as Christians, you only need a Savior once. We find this many places in the bible, but the most promenate one is the Parable of the Prodigal son. The young man left his family and returned having sinned all he could and spent all he had. The father, saved him from the punishment of that sin, which was death. Remember the towns people were lined up at the gate ready to stone him. The father lifted his tunic, which was considered humiliating, for a patriarch of the family to do, He then ran which was also humiliating for a patriarch. Taking everyone’s attention off of the son and onto the father so that he could save him from the punishment of being stoned to death and bring him back into the position of son ship.

An unknown Author once said

When Adam sinned the image of God was distorted and unrecognizable with us, his creation. When Jesus died he was beat to the point of being unrecognizable as a human in order to realign God’s image within us.

That’s the image of a Savior. When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior he ushers us back as Children of God. Once we are children of God we transition from needing a Savior to needing a Lord.

A Lord is one who has unlimited command over us. Many Christians stay baby Christians because they refuse to move from

Victim to Follower.

victim to sonship.

So what Does our original word Pioneer have to do with any of this.

Pioneer

Well Like I said I couldn’t get out of my head.

Acts 5:31 ESV

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:

The reason is because of the term Leader. It’s stated differently in other versions of the bible. There are three terms used which all mean the same thing in the orgional Greek. You will read: Leader, Prince, Ruler.

Which all mean

“A pioneer, one who leads the way, an originator.”

Peter in his second sermon (acts 3:15) calls Jesus the Prince of Life- Why because he leads the way to life. The issue the Sanhedrin have is that they don’t want a new way of life-They are busy trying to protect the Old way of life—Their way. I find this true with many Christians. We want Christ until Christ wants change. So looking a tJesus’ life I came up with

The Four Characteristics of a Pioneer.

The Four Characteristics of a Pioneer. 1) Unshakable Loyalty

John 5:19 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

We see this in the life of Ruth when it came to following Naomi. She knew what was right and was loyal to the one she originally pledged herself too. Loyalty is important because there are many things in our life that desire to take over Lordship of our life. Isaiah was very clear on this when he penned the words

Isaiah

Isaiah 42:8 ESV

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Someone who is going to be a pioneer of the faith must exhibit unrelenting loyalty to the full truth of God’s word. Peter was two things: Go back to where you came and Preach the full truth. When you received Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of your life I pray that the pastor who helped you down that road charged you in the same way. Go back into your world, those people whom you have contact with, and preach the full truth of God’s word. Do not waiver or change that which God has risen, but be faithful in what you were intrusted with. The very words of God himself.

The Four Characteristics of a Pioneer. 1) Unshakable Loyalty 2)Challenges the Status Quo

The Four Characteristics of a Pioneer. 1) Unshakable Loyalty

Peter didn’t let the Sanhedrin’s words stop God from changing the way things were done.

Jesus while praying has a women thrown at his feet who was found to be in an adulterous relationship. Status quo was to stone her to death. Death said that who is without sin throw the first stone. Sometimes you have to challenge the way you always done things because the way you did things worked where God had you but may not work where God is taking you. In order to grow sometimes you have to let go.

You see this with David. The boy was left in the field. Someone who no one thought was worthy. But God challenged everyone’s thoughts and brought a boy out of a field to lead a nation. In your life are you willing to challenge any habit that God wants to change? It may be how you talk. It may be where you walk. It may be how and when you study the bible, but are willing to do something new so God can elevate himself inside of you.

The Four Characteristics of a Pioneer. 1) Unshakable Loyalty 2) Challenges the Status Quo 3) Willing to Work

A Pioneer has to be willing to work. When think of Pioneer often you think of someone in the jungle or in the woods with a machette cutting down vines and branches so that those behind them have an easier path to take. A Pioneer doesn’t take away all the hazards, but removes that which those who follow will not be able to take on on their own.

recalls a time when the apostles couldn’t drive out a demon. The man ran to Jesus and asked him to cast this demon out. When the apostles asked why they couldn’t Jesus’ reply

Matthew 17:21 ESV

Matthew 17:21 NKJV

However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

The disciples have cast out other demons, but they didn’t practice this new idea of fasting. Why? Because Jesus stated before

Mark 2:19–20 ESV

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

as Mature Christians people will follow us who haven’t been called to your level of obedience yet. This is ok. Our jobs as Pioneers is to help them clear the way of the larger demons things they aren’t ready for so that they can focus on growing where they are at. When my kids were younger everything was bubble rapped. The corners of the tables. Safety knobs on the doors. plugs in the outlets. Now, as my kids grow some of these things disappear. The danger isn’t removed, but their ability to confront the danger on their own has changed.

As Pioneers we must be willing to put in the work so that those who come behind us can grow.

The Four Characteristics of a Pioneer. 1) Unshakable Loyalty 2) Challenge the Status Quo 3) Willing to Work 4) Casting Vision

One of my favorite verses is

John 14:12–14 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

It is the job of the Pioneer to see things his followers doesn’t. As the Pastor of the church I have big dreams of building a new church on top of the hill behind us. I have the vision of seeing Nicholson, which is currently filled with empty church, being brought to such revival that every bible believing church will be filled. I have a vision of no one in wyoming county being hungry or without food. I am developing a vision which will help those who are coming out of prision be successfully transitioned into the real world without the torments that brought them into prison the first time. My wife and I are also sorting through a vision and calling to Africa, although we don’t know what that is yet.

People get tired of falling people who walk in circles. God is always moving and doing something greater than he has before. That’s why we would do things greater than Jesus did. Because God is always unfolding new paths to those who are willing to walk them and to cut through the issues.

Lastly

A Pioneer Passes the Torch

Jesus left his disciples with the mission to go out into all the World preaching the gospel.

Paul writing the second letter to Timothy charges Timothy to carry the torch. The second letter was sent about the same time Paul realized he was being put to death. He realized his time had come. So Paul told Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 4:5 ESV

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Timothy 3:14 ESV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

2 Timothy

2 Timothy 4:5 ESV

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Our job as Christ follower is to develop other Christ followers. God will put people in your path whom you need to disciple and to help grow.

Come let us pray to be a pioneer