WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

Sermon delivered by Pastor Finn Sunday, April 25, 2021 EASTER 4

Text: Acts 4:23-33 "We’re All In This Together "

In the name of Jesus, dear Christian friends.

A little boy named Jade was in the news earlier this week. Jade was orphaned at age six, and yet as heartbroken as Jade was, he chose to channel his grief in a way that has turned a lot of heads. Jade has a simple mission. He wants to make people smile. He goes up to strangers he meets, who look like they could use a happy boost, and he promises to give them a little toy (like a toy froggie or something). And when they say, “Well, thank you, little boy. What’s this for?” The boy says, “I just wanted to make you smile.”

Mission accomplished. Some people are so caught off guard by this that they just start to cry and hug the little boy, and they say, “Thank you for making me smile!”

It’s nice to hear stories like this. After all, we’re all this together—and sometimes this can be very difficult—by this I mean life in general—life in this sin-fallen world isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, sometimes because of the sin of others, or our own sin, or just because we live in this sin-fallen world. So it’s nice once in a while when people around us are caring and helpful and kind—it makes this world a little better place to live at times.

What we see in our text for today, had to make God smile. In v.32 we’re told that, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” So whenever someone was in need, you could count on your church family to help meet that need in some way. (vv.33-35) “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”

As we see the early church in action in these verses today, let’s think about the purpose of our church. Is it just to be kind and make this world a better place? What is our mission And are we getting it right? Are we putting a smile on God’s face by what we’re doing or are we missing something?

At first, Peter and John were on top of the world after they helped a man who’d been crippled since birth. God granted them the ability to heal a man who had been crippled from birth. They came to this man near the gate to the Temple at Jerusalem where he was begging for alms. And Peter said to him, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” (Acts 3:6). Talk about an act of kindness! The man who had been paralyzed since birth, got up and walked!! An amazing thing happens when we are kind to others like this. We ourselves are filled with joy. Imagine how Peter and John felt as God used them as his instruments to help this paralyzed man. But Peter and John knew that the mission of the church doesn’t stop with earthly happiness. They turned to those watching and spoke to them, and said—(And I’m just sharing a couple lines here from their speech)—they said that, (3:16) “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that [this man] has been completely healed...” (3:13-15,19) “You handed Jesus over to be killed…but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this...Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

The people who were listening, who had seen the miracle, did repent and believe in the risen Jesus. The man in our text and most everyone was else was happy about the miracle Peter and John did in Jesus’ name, and the number of believers grew from three to five thousand that day! It seemed like the start of a “golden age” for the early Christian church, but it was short lived.

Some heard about the miracle and the message of Peter and they weren’t happy at all. While they were preaching on the steps of the Temple, we’re told that, “The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John,” (Ac 4:1) and they were “greatly disturbed” because Peter and John were preaching about Jesus and the resurrection of the dead (Ac 4:2). And they threatened them, telling them not to preach anymore about these things. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day (Ac 4:3), when they interrogated them, and then warned them strictly about spreading the message about Jesus “‘any further among the people...speak no longer to anyone...at all in the name of Jesus.” (Ac 4:17–18)

But do you think that stopped them? Absolutely not! Peter looked them in the eyes and he asked them, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to God? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Ac 4:19–20). As eyewitnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Christ, Peter and John couldn’t help but share the good news with others! After being threatened once more not to tell about Jesus, they left and went to a house where a number of their fellow believers were gathered, and they told them everything that happened. Everyone lifted their voices in praise and prayer to God and this is what they said: “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” (Ac 4:24–28).

It must’ve made God smile to see his people drawing strength together this way. During this difficult time they got together to draw strength together from God’s Word. They didn’t just put the matter on a prayer chain. It’s one of the strengths of the early church. They knew where to go for help together. They were devoted to God’s Word, and it was God’s powerful Word that united them in their faith and mission.

Let’s look at their prayer a little closer. In v.24 they confess that God’s their almighty Creator and ruler over all things. And then they go on to quote from Psalm 2 in the Bible which speaks of God’s anointed One, Jesus, and the way worldly rulers conspire against God and Christ and his church—the very thing going on with them at the moment—but according to the psalmist, all their plotting and scheming against Lord of heaven and earth would come to nothing! And to confirm the way all his promises in his Word were coming true, he gave this fledgling church a powerful sign. (vv.31,33) “After they prayed,” we’re told that, “the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly...With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”

Imagine that, huh? What if, after we got done praying the Lord’s Prayer in our service here today, that this place of worship was shaken?! Maybe starting with a slow rumble as we get to “Thy kingdom come,” and then building to a powerful shaking and quaking with the doxology at the end—“For thine is the kingdom, and the power and glory, forever and ever Amen!”

Of course, the reality is that God reigns, whether or not we see it or feel it in the way that these believers did in this reading. And, as incredible at this must’ve been for these early Christians, the real miracle in their midst was the boldness of faith the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts, and the sense of oneness they shared in their gospel mission. That despite difficult odds and the threat to their lives—they had each other and they knew their Good Shepherd Jesus would continue to bless and keep them as they continued doing the Lord’s Work. And what was that work? (vv.31,33) “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly…With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was powerfully at work in them all.”

At it’s core, that’s what the church is all about. Acts of love and deeds of kindness ought to flow naturally from our hearts of faith in Jesus, and many times, our loving ways with others will serve to develop relationships and build bridges with people over which the gospel may go. The little boy I mentioned at the beginning today, is a good example of that. While giving someone a toy froggie may put a smile on someone’s face, it won’t save someone from sin, death and hell. But in addition to getting people to smile, he got a lot of people thinking and wondering about what made him tick. It

You know that little boy kept at his little smile experiment and in the space of just a few months, he made over 500 people smile. Within three years he made over 30,000 smile. And that’s just one little boy. We could learn something from him. As a church have a something that can do more than just put a smile on someone’s face; the good news of forgiveness of sins and the promise of heaven for all who believe in Jesus, can make someone eternally happy. That’s our mission.

Someone said somewhere that, “The smile of God is the goal of your life.” What makes God more happy than reaching lost sinners for Christ?! And it’s funny. An amazing thing happens when we share our joy in our Savior with others. Not only do we give God enjoyment, but our own hearts are filled with joy, too!

Amen.

ACTS 4:3 - They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

ACTS 4:24 - They all raised their voices together (ὁμοθυμαδὸν = with same mind, Lit.passion)

ACTS 4:29 - Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

ACTS 5:12 - And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade

ACTS 5:18-20 - 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

ACTS 5:40 - His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

ACTS 6-7 - Stephen is seized

ACTS 8:1-4 - On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

ACTS 9:31 - Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace.

ACTS 11:19 - Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.

ACTS 12:1-2 - It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

ACTS 12:3-4 - When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.