Ananias and Sapphira: The Danger of Sin in the Church

Dumitru Duduman was a man who grew up in Romania during the cold war era, which was controlled by the Soviet Union. 

At one time he served in the military and helped stop Bible’s from coming into Romania. But one day he heard a voice that told him to help bring the bibles in. So he did. But he found out later they weren’t making it through.

Years later he became a Christian, and began organizing a new way to smuggle bibles into Russia. Over fifteen years Dumitru helped bring in over 300,000 bibles into the country. But in 1979, due to informants within the church, Dumitru was arrested. 

They demanded to know where the bibles were and how he got them across the border; but the Holy Spirit kept telling him, don’t be afraid, don’t tell them, I’m with you. They put him in a room full of rats, they beat his feet with rods, placed a wooden plank on his back and beat his back; they even attached him to an electric chair, but the Lord appeared to Him, and kept assuring Dumitru that everything would be OK. 

For 5 months this went on. The colonel who led the tortures of Dumitru was Colonel Preston. Dumitru prayed for the Colonel, instead of hating him. They all knew Dumitru followed God. And one day, they were going to kill Dumitru, but then an officer walked in and told him, Colonel Preston was going over your file and suddenly died. We know your God vindicated you, and we are letting you go. Please do not pray to your God about me, so I don’t die. I never harmed you. And they let him go. He went on to travel to America, and speak everywhere about his story.

Dumitru Duduman’s story is powerful and amazing. But I want you to think about his situation, and how God set him free. God set an example powerfully, by striking the Colonel who was torturing him, and it caused them to set free Dumitru, so he could continue his ministry. Was God right in doing this, to protect his beloved saint? I think God certainly was. Keep this example in mind, as we study the scripture for today. 

Last week we saw the disciples gather to pray, after facing persecution from the authorities. They prayed, united, and trusted in God’s sovereignty. They asked God for boldness, and miracles, and God gave both. As a result the church continued to grow.

We’re going examine two scriptures today, the last few verses of chapter 4, and the first 11 verses of chapter five, and we’re going to see both amazing unity, and a new problem faced by the early church, and how God chose to deal with it.

We’ll be studying today one of the most challenging passages in the New Testament, but knowing you are all growing in maturity in Christ, I believe we’ll all be able to receive it in the right way.

At the end of chapter 4, verses 32-37, we see a period of unparalleled unity among the early church.

It says this in verse 32: “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

There was such a joyous unity among the believers, their hearts belonged to Jesus, and their minds were in alignment.

This is incredibly powerful. And it occurs when believers have centered their lives in Christ. They naturally walk in the ways of the Spirit. They naturally serve each other. They naturally unite together. They gather together at bible study or women’s group, or here in the sanctuary, and no one can quite explain it, but there is an electric sense of connectivity and shared action among them.

That’s what it means to be united in heart and mind. A church united in this way can accomplish great things for God.

But keep this in mind: It has to do with the heart, and the mind. Both are submitted to God. When one is out of alignment, or both are out of alignment there can be problems.

A heart in alignment is humbly centered on God and the leading of His Spirit.

A heart out of alignment may become hardened and drift away from God. Pride and jealousy creep in and soon this person is disruptive to the body of Christ, instead of in unity with it.

A mind in alignment is humbly centered on Jesus Christ, being renewed by the word, and seeking to think in alignment with the mind of Christ.

A mind out of alignment is centered on worldly concerns, carnal pursuits, a worldly mind isn’t concerned with the things of God, just entertainment and money, and tasks to do.

Where is your heart today? Is it soft and humble, or do you have to be right, do you have to be in control? Is there pride in it?

Where is your mind today? Is your mind centered on Christ, or your own pleasures and your own agenda, instead of the agenda of God?

Prayer: Father, we confess our need for a renewal of heart and mind. Please Father, mold and shape our heart into your likeness. Cleanse it from all impurity. Give us a soft heart, humbly submitted to your leading. We give you our hearts, and place them in your hands. Give us also a mind renewed by the word, and through prayer, a mind centered in humility, grant us the mind of Christ, in Jesus name we pray, amen.  

If your heart and mind are centered on Christ, you will be an instrument of unity in the body.

Second part of verse 32: “No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”

This unity led to the sharing of possessions and resources. Any Christian who was in need, the church would look for ways to provide.

About 6 months ago, my wife Chelsey and I were praying for a vehicle, and God used several church members to help make that happen. We are so grateful for the body helping meet needs. 

Many bring food for events, others volunteer time, others give money for special projects. But I think we can go even further with this concept, what if we had a needs textgroup? What if we were able to help with the needs of our people at a greater scale? Pray God would do this even more among us.

Next, verse 33: “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”

They continued to testify. They didn’t get weary and give up. They kept proclaiming in the marketplace, in the streets, and in people’s homes that Jesus rose from the dead. God’s action in their boldness was to bless it all with His grace.

Verses 34-35 continues, God’s grace was so powerful… 

“34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”

There was not a single needy person among them. Those who had land or houses, sold a property, sold a house, sold a field they owned, and gave all the proceeds to the church.

Does this mean you have to sell your house to be a good Christian? I don’t think so. It says in other portions of Acts that they were meeting in each other’s homes. So many still kept their homes. But this passage appears to be people who had many assets, selling them and giving the money to the church to care for the needy. Which is a beautiful thing. But it was by choice. There was no force. It was by the leading of the Holy Spirit. They saw believers who were poor and homeless, and sold assets to care for their needs. 

I want you to notice the level of generosity. They were giving big. Some of you have that spiritual gift of giving. You give generously, financially and you give assets for the church and for those in need. Use that gift as God leads you. Give abundant. Give big. And enjoy it. It’s fun to give. It feels good to do God’s will and it’s so rewarding to see how God uses it.

Verses 36-37, I think are a good example of what was happening: 

"36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet."

He didn’t sell his home and become homeless, he didn’t give up all his assets. But he had a field he owned, and he sold it for the good of the church. That’s pretty amazing.

What if you did the same thing, by the leading of the Spirit? What if the Spirit is saying sell that boat and give the money to the poor? What if the Spirit is saying give up something big for his kingdom?

Now if it’s your first visit today you may be thinking oh my goodness, all this church teaches about is money. That’s definitely not true. But I would challenge every Christian here today, we should all be tithing and giving offerings every Sunday. Because the church needs our money? No, because our hearts need to submit our wealth to God, and when we do, God blesses us abundantly. 

I remember about ten years ago, I wasn't tithing, and a church member testified to me, that he had begun tithing faithfully many years ago, and God had blessed him so abundantly he was now a millionaire. I was in deep debt at the time. But I decided to trust God. I sat down and calculated what 10% of my income was. And I began to give it in check form each Sunday. And in two years, I was out of debt. By submitting my first fruits to God, God blessed my finances. For years I never had enough, but now, by honoring God with my money, I had an abundance. Money always seemed to slip away, now it seemed to gather. 

So the early church were on fire for the Lord, bold, sharing the gospel, and giving big for those in need.

Now, flip over to Acts 5.We are going to see a problem develop in the church. Satan was not making the progress he desired by attacking the church from outside. In fact it just seemed to cause them to rely upon God even more. So we’re going to see Satan attempt to infiltrate the church from within. 

Acts 5:1-2 says, “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

So we have a married couple, who see people in the church selling properties and homes, and giving the money to the apostles, and they decide to do something similar.

But something is very wrong within the hearts of Ananias and his wife. They take an action to attempt to deceive the Spirit. The people selling property were giving all the proceeds. But, this couple does something different.

They pretend that they are giving everything, but they actually hold back part of the money for themselves.

Now the issue isn’t that they didn’t give enough, or that they shouldn’t have held back money, but it’s that they lied. They pretended to be giving all, but they weren’t. 

And we see the Lord speak through Peter against this deception:

Verse 3: Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”

Verse 3 helps us understand the severity of what is really going on spiritually in this situation. It’s not money, or even lying. It’s an issue of the heart.

Very few in all of scripture are said to be filled with Satan. The one who comes to mind is Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. 

In Luke 22:3 it says: "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve."

I think there’s a lot more going on in this passage than we realize. Ananias and his wife have reached a state in which they are filled with Satan. 

It’s a heart issue. And he says, you didn’t just lie to people, you lied to the Holy Spirit.

Peter continues: “4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Peter rebukes Ananias, and tells him, this property was yours. You could do whatever you wanted with it. Then when you sold it, again, you could do whatever you wanted with the money. You didn’t have to come here and lie about it. Your sin isn’t just against people it’s against God.

And I think what was really going on here is, Satan was attempting to begin to infiltrate the church, and through Ananias and his wife, he could’ve began to divide the church and cause problems. But God deals with this threat swiftly.

Verse 5-6, “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.” 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.”

God deals with this threat to the unity of the new and beloved early church, by immediately striking Ananias on the spot. And he fell down and died.

I think this is where we get the modern notion that people are afraid God is going to “smite” them. Or this fear that God is going to send a lightning bolt and hit us, or some fear that if they walk into a church they’ll burst into flames. But all of that is simply not true.

What we see here in Acts 5 is rare. I’m not saying it’s impossible, that God won’t move in and deal with someone in the world in this way if he chooses to. But, it is rare. God isn’t going to strike you with lightning, he’s not Zeus.

But he does deal with sin.  And if it were us at the time of the birth of the early church, at a time of complete unity when the church is not billions like it is today, but a few thousand, and one of us came in with division, filled with Satan, I might be worried. But that’s not our current situation. God’s actions are very situational, depending on what is going on in the moment.

But let’s keep going and see what happens next. 

Verses 7-8: 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Sapphira apparently wasn’t there when her husband originally came in. But, she enters and joins in the lie of her husband. So, again we see the judgment of God land upon her. 

Verse 9-10 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Same result, Saphira is judged by the Lord for her part in this scheme that served as a danger to the unity and witness of the early church. 

The result of this double judgment by the Lord against the spirit of Satan entering the church?

It says in verse 11: "Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events."

The fear of the Lord guards the growth of the church, it guards the church against compromise, and ultimately, the entry of Satan into the church.

The danger is serious, if Satan can sneak into the church, it can cause the church to lose it’s way, and become ineffective in carrying the gospel to the world.

I think that’s why God’s actions here are so fast and severe, he is protecting the early church from being infiltrated by the devil early on. As the church continues to form over the centuries, we see the Lord is more patient with people who bring evil into the church, but at this key early moment, the Lord was quick to deal with this issue.

It was at the core, a heart issue. We talked about how the early church was united in heart and mind. But these people were not. They in fact had Satan in their hearts. And that lead to God’s judgment against them.

The fear of the Lord is something we in the modern church need to rediscover. We need to remember the holy God we serve and tremble before Him, particularly when we're tempted to sin. God is holy. He is our loving Father, but sometimes, my wife's sister tells this story, that if she did something wrong, her mom would just go quiet, and she knew she was waiting for dad to get home. This brought fear. We love dad, but he we also fear dad. That's a good thing. 

In conclusion, let us always remember the power of unity in the church, when every believer’s heart is filled with Jesus Christ, it brings powerful unity. But when Satan is in the heart of people in the church, it brings a dangerous situation that can cripple, divide or even destroy a fellowship of believers. So God deals swiftly with those kinds of situations, if we will pray and trust Him to move on our behalf.

But remember, It’s not our job to deal out the justice of God, it’s our part to speak his word boldly, to pray for our enemies, and pray for the church, and God will work out the rest. God is the only one able to judge in this way. So we ought to fear God, shun evil in our own hearts, and love and pray for those who persecute us. Because God will deal with them, in His timing.

Recall Dumitru Duduman, and how the man who tortured him suddenly died right before Dumitru was going to be executed. And we are grateful that God protected him. I think we should have a similar attitude about the incident with Ananias and Saphira, God was protecting the church from the presence of Satan which had entered their hearts.

God protects his church. When we pray, God moves. God will fight for the unity of His church, and deliver us from anyone who might bring the spirit of Satan into our midst. Praise the Lord.

I fear my God, I love my Lord, and most of all, I trust my God. God is worthy of our trust. If we don’t fully understand, we can still trust. 

Prayer: Father, we love you and we fear you. We regard you as the Holy one. You protect your church. We may not fully understand the things of God, but Lord, we trust in you, and leave judgment in your hands, not ours. In Jesus name, amen. 

Acts 4:23-31: How the Church Stands Firm Against the Spirit of the Age

I remember growing up my mom would take my sister and I swimming at this park, it was off camp Philips rd. in my hometown. It was a beautiful park. But it was interesting, the swimming area was actually a river, called the Eau Claire river.

It was a lot of fun to swim in, and the waters would slowly move down the stream. The water didn’t move particularly fast. But it was interesting, I remember as we played in the water, we’d start to drift down stream.

My mom would have to call out to us and say, "Be careful, come back, you’re being pulled down the river!"

We’d look up from playing and realize where we were: Further down the river than we realized.

In fact, one time we were there a child got sucked down the river, and my mom and another man had to rescue them.

Later, they closed the park entirely because it was deemed unsafe for swimming.

I recall CS Lewis often spoke of a “spirit of the age” that has influence in the world all around us.

CS Lewis compared the spirit of the age to a stream of water, that without even realizing it, we as Christians can be swept down the river, of the beliefs of this world, and we end up believing lies.

The world and the church are at odds. And there is a spirit of the age, a worldview that is commonly held, that is often contrary to Christian beliefs. If we aren’t careful, we can be swept down stream, and sometimes we need someone to call out to us, and say look where you are, you’re not in a safe place!

It was similar in the time of the disciples. They faced a world that didn’t believe in Jesus. A spirit of the age hostile to Christianity, yet they spoke boldly, to disrupt that system.

The disciples had spoken to the crowds, after the man who couldn’t walk, was healed. The early church grew from 3,000 to 5,000. And Peter and John were arrested, and questioned by the religious leaders of Israel. But given that the people were rejoicing because of the healing, they didn’t know what to do with them, so they released them, threatening them not to speak about Jesus anymore. But the disciples had said, we can’t help but speaking about what we’ve seen and heard.

So we come to our scripture for today, in Acts 4:23-31. 

We begin in Acts 4:23, “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.”

So they gathered with the early church, their people, and shared what happened.

Two things to notice, first, released, they were set free, God made sure they were delivered.

Second, they went back “gathered” to their own people, to rally the church to respond to these new developments.

Next, verse 24: "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God."

As the church gathers, growing rapidly in Jerusalem, they immediately go to prayer.

I find this fascinating, they are growing rapidly, they’ve gone from 120, to 3000, to 5000. But they don’t sit back, and say well, job well done, let’s relax a bit. No, they press forward into prayer.

There’s something fundamental I’ve learned about prayer and spiritual warfare since coming here a year ago.

The enemy fought us at every turn in the first year. Now that’s not any different than when I was in Gary or Owosso or Escanaba, or anywhere else. The enemy fights what God is doing through His church.

But the spiritual warfare was intense, and we went constantly from prayer, to fasting, to prayer, to fasting, and it was constant. It always felt like the enemy was one step ahead. Or at least, always preparing a new attack. But I noticed, as this church prayed, gathered in prayer, even some of you fasted, around this summer, that I sensed a breakthrough spiritually. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but it was like we had finally overthrown the enemy’s attacks. There was breakthrough to joy.

And so we may be wondering at this moment, of breakthrough, how do we respond? We should pray all the more. Pray even harder. If we’ve broken out of some enemy shell, now we should push forward even firmer in prayer, to stay 1, 2, even 3 steps ahead of the enemy. We leave the enemy in the dust, by pressing into prayer after the victory.

This may seem counter-intuitive, shouldn’t we rest and celebrate after a victory? Certainly, but immediately we should press into next level prayer, the enemy hasn’t quit, and we want to keep him under our feet, in the name of Jesus.

Notice also that it says the believers “raised their voices” in prayer. That’s fascinating, because Peter and John just raised their voices to speak to the crowds and then to the leaders, and now they raise their voices a third time to God. I think that should be our battle plan as well, to raise our voices to speak about Jesus to the world, to those who persecute us, and then just as fervently raise our voices in prayer to God. That equation is powerful, a double raised voice, to the world and to God.

Second portion of verse 24, they pray together: “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”

God is sovereign. We often hear that phrase in church. But what does it actually mean? Sovereignty implies total authority, power, and I think it’s best stated in the phrase: “God is in control.” That’s 100% true. But, remember, this phrase factors in free will. God is in control, yet we also know, His will isn’t always done, whenever someone sins, that isn’t God’s will, but he allows it, because he is a God who gives freedom to the human race. Yet His sovereign will is always done, His sovereign will is different, it's the path we're moving on toward the final culmination in the end times, and the eventual revealing of the New City of God. 

The believers also note, that God made everything. He made the stars, he made the planet Earth, he made the heavens, he made the sea, and all things in those habitats he created. So he created, the universe, the earth, and the sea, and then populated those places. And he is in authority over all of it.

The believer’s prayer continues: (v.25-26) 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?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.'

The believers quote from Psalm 2 here, as they pray. Always a wise thing to do, quoting scripture in our prayers. Scripture is what God has breathed out, and there is power in quoting scripture back to God.

The thought here is astonishing, they connect the opposition of the Sanhedrin to ancient scripture. They see the opposition of the rulers as being played out before their very eyes.

"Why do the nations conspire (or rage) and plot in vain?"

Notice, you have two main groups here. You have the body of Christ, the believers, and you have the world and it’s leaders. And we see from psalm 2 that the leaders of the world conspire, and plot against who? Against God. We’re told in the future ultimately, the nations of the Earth will rise up against God, band together and seek to “throw off their chains” which is mentioned in Psalm 2, the kings of the Earth want to throw off the constraints of God.

Holiness, love, purity, service to others, submission to each other, they seek to overthrow these things. They want to be in control, not God.  

The rulers band together against God, and his anointed one, which is Jesus.

In verse 27 they give evidence of this concept: “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.”

They give evidence of the conspiracy against Jesus in their prayer, by citing how Herod, a ruler of the Jews, and Pilate, a ruler of the gentiles, met with both Jews and gentiles to create a plan to destroy Jesus, the anointed of God.

The leaders certainly did conspire to destroy Jesus, and essentially to try to stop God’s plan of redemption. But paradoxically by killing Jesus, they actually fulfilled God’s plan to provide a path for humanity to be brought home to him.

Similar things are happening in our world today. Governments and powerful entities world wide I have no doubt, are working plans and schemes against the Lord. In fact we’re told that this is God’s purpose being fulfilled, that the nations will gather together to appose God.

As it says in verse 28, “They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

Two movements happening, the working of the body of Christ, and the working of the spirit of the age (the world). Yet God is sovereign over all of it. 

It is God’s will, that the body of Christ will gather the lost to Christ. The body of Christ today is at about 2.67 billion people claiming Christ, the majority being Catholic, 37% Protestant, and 12% Orthodox. There are about 4 million church congregations in the world today, and about 5 million ministers. 

It is also God’s will that the nations will gather together against the Lord’s people, in a final standoff. This standoff is shifting into place year by year, decade by decade quietly behind the scenes, the nations gather, the body of Christ gathers.

And we know there are many conspiracy theories out there, about a new world order, a one world government, the world economic forum, and I have no doubt many of those things will be proven true in time. Then again, many things will also be proven false in time. 

It is a fact, according to scripture, that the nations will gather against the Lord in the last days. To suggest that it’s happening now, is not mere speculation, but scripturally accurate. But we aren’t there yet. And we can’t get caught up in constant conspiracy theories, instead we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus.

Think of the early church. They weren’t afraid. They weren’t looking at the conspiracy and saying oh my goodness what will we do everything's out of control, they affirmed that God was in control, and they had total peace despite the circumstances.

Too often we look at the problems in the world and we panic. But God doesn’t want us to panic. He wants us to look at the problems and say, my God is even greater, and I’m getting to work on his behalf.

But why is God allowing this culmination? Well, why did God allow Jesus to be crucified? There was a greater purpose in Jesus’ death and resurrection. So it is with the last days, if God is allowing Satan to influence the nations to gather together against the Lord, then I suspect God will use these events to prove how evil, evil really is, and how pure loving holiness really is.

In you recall in the book of Exodus, when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, plague after plague fell upon the Egyptians, sent by God, why not just set the Israelites free right away? God was showing the world the truth, that every other god is false, and he is the only true Lord.

The early church understood that the religious leaders were beginning to fulfill this prophecy of the leaders of the Earth gathering against the Lord. But ultimately, psalm 2 speaks partially of Jesus first coming, but even more so of his second coming, it speaks of the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ on the Earth, and God’s victory over the nations gathered by the Satan.

We truly live in biblical times friends.

All of this becomes part of the prayer of the church at this critical moment.

And so they continue praying: “29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

They ask the Lord to consider the threats of the rulers. And also, to enable them, average everyday men and women, not international bankers, not billionaires, not tech CEOs, not prime ministers or presidents, not learned professors with many degrees, not doctors or surgeons, not engineers or chemists, but average normal people, to be enabled by the power of the living God, to speak His word with “great boldness.”

May that be our prayer as well. We find ourselves surrounded with so many events and cultural trends and evils spreading in our society that we feel powerless to affect. But we are not powerless. The enemy wants us to think we are powerless. But God reminds us time and again, with me, you can do all things. Average normal people can change the world. Ordinary Christians who know their authority in Christ can pray and speak, and shift society away from the devil and toward the truth. Don’t let the devil steal your voice or your power.

Ask God to enable you to speak his word with great boldness. And then you’ll be enabled to do so by Him.

But they ask even more from the Lord, they are bold in their prayer request: (verse 30)

“30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Don’t just make us bold, stretch out your hand God, into this reality, into this moment in time, and do healings, signs and wonders, through the power of the name of Jesus Christ. In hebrew: Yeshua HaMashiach. Koinen Greek: Iesous Christos (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός)."ee-ay-SOOS khris-TOS"

We should also ask for more than just boldness to speak, but also, for healings, signs and wonders for this city. For revival, for awakening, for the next move of God.

But don’t just wait for a move of God, be a move of God. That’s what William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army said, "I’m not waiting for a move of God, I am a move of God."

Now that’s not a statement of pride, but a statement of this: If we walk in the fire of the Spirit, our very life becomes God’s power moving through us. If we are praying for a move of God, well, that’s not bad; But, what if we said, "I’m going to live as a move of God." That’s a powerful shift in mindset.

All through the name of Jesus, not of ourselves, but through the name and presence of Jesus. Never forget that. Never. As much as I love to bask in the presence of the Father, I know the only reason I can take another breath is because Jesus is with me, is King of my life, and is interceding for me with the Father.

Last verse, “31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

This united prayer was so humble, so devoted, there was such oneness, such earnestness, such inspiration of the Spirit, that after they prayed, the very building was shaken. Physically shaking around them. Imagine that!

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, hold on, the believers already have the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. But, there is a difference between having the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit with us, is the gift of God for the believer. The Holy Spirit infilling is a special experience which empowers a believer to walk in supernatural giftings.

The result? Their prayer was answered, and they were enabled by this infilling to speak the word of God boldly to the city around them.

What teaching of Jesus, I wonder, came to mind for the disciples during these events? Perhaps they thought of what Jesus said in John 15:18-20:

He said: 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

And the disciples lived this teaching out beautifully. They recognized the rulers were against them. They accepted it. They understood persecution was part of being a Christian. And they also saw the hope, that because so many accepted Jesus’ teaching, many would also accept theirs. So they prayed, prayed for boldness, to continue to carry that message, even as persecution rose against them.

So in conclusion, how do we apply this today?

Let’s review our main points for some clues…

1. The believers didn’t celebrate their victory by drawing back, they pressed even deeper into prayer

2. We ought to keep a powerful dual approach in mind: Raise our voices to people in love and raise our voices to God in prayer

3. The believers had confidence because they understood God’s sovereignty

4. Christians shouldn’t panic when seeing world opposition to God, we can know these people are unwittingly playing into God’s larger purposes.

5. The church ought to pray for big things from God, boldness, miracles, wonders.

6. God responds to our prayers in mighty ways, he baptizes us in blazing fire

7. As Jesus said, we can expect and accept resistance from the world, but we can also know many of that same world will listen to and obey the message from God.

The Courage of Average Men: How Jesus Gives Ordinary People Extraordinary Courage

One word: Courage. We can have courage, because we know the God who stands with us. We can know our identity. Because we really do know Jesus.

It reminds me of how the disciples became bold, after Jesus rose from the dead.

The disciples had waited in Jerusalem for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. 120 disciples were gathered when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. At that moment Peter spoke boldly and 3000 men were baptized into the faith.

In the incident we discuss today, a second moment of opportunity occurred, Peter and John prayed over a man who couldn’t walk and he was miraculously healed. Peter began speaking to the crowds, and it says in Acts 4:4, that the number of men who believed became 5,000. As they spoke to the crowds, the priests and temple guards came and arrested them and threw them into jail.

The next morning Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling body of the nation. This would be like being brought into a court room, or brought before the house of representatives to be questioned. This would be very intimidating. These were powerful and learned men.

Yet they spoke boldly of Jesus, declaring, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (v.12)

As they spoke before the governing authorities, they were respectful, they weren’t rude or antagonizing. They spoke politely, but clearly and plainly, the truth which they had witnessed: Jesus is really real.

Today for our devotional thought, we discuss the courage of average people. We’ll be in Acts 4:13-21 today. And it begins like this:

“13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

They were courageous – (also often translated boldness) – The leaders noted their courage.

1828 dictionary: “Bravery; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness”

Greek word for courage(boldness): parrēsia

From the Vines Expository Dictionary: (a), primarily, "freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance..."

(b) "the absence of fear in speaking boldly; hence, confidence, cheerful courage...”

They were noted to be unschooled – Average ordinary men, no professional training in an academic setting (many of us are unschooled, but we may speak of Jesus plainly as well)

They had been with Jesus – Peter and John had been with Jesus and they could tell.

We’ve also been with Jesus. And if we spend time with Jesus, people will be able to tell. We will have the aroma of heaven around us.

Could someone today tell that you’ve been with Jesus? Or sense that you’ve been scrolling on your phone for the last hour?

Next, verse 14-15: “14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

The evidence was clear. The Sanhedrin had called the crippled man as well, and he’s standing there on his feet. The evidence silences them.

Is the evidence clear in your life? If you were called to a court room today, would there be enough evidence to convict you for being a Christian?

There are three power forms of evidence I’ve noticed that speak very clearly to a lost world. 

First, Empathy. When we reach out to someone, listen to them and share in their struggles. People take notice of that. No one listens anymore. Everyone talks. When we listen with caring, people take note of that.

Second, Holy Spirit power. When someone senses the presence of God around you, because you’ve been in prayer, they will be drawn to the words you speak, because the words are painted with the oil of God, they are anointed words. That Holy Spirit power, within the believer, is a clear sign that God is real.

Third, the most powerful evidence, is real love. Jesus said, all the world will know you are my disciples by your love for one another (John 13:35). 

Not just saying we love each other, but a heart felt love, a sincere love that is evidenced in actions. A unified love.

Empathy (relationship), Holy Spirit power (God’s presence) and real Love (community). Those three together prove God is really among us.

Now don’t get me wrong, apologetics are great, evidences for God’s existence, the first cause, fine tuning, historical evidence, moral law, all of that is wonderful, but if it’s not bathed in empathy, Spirit, and love, it will be empty, even offensive.

So the Sanhedrin, they see the evidence, they don’t have a word to say, so they head back to discuss it privately.

Verse 16: “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.”

They can’t deny it. Jesus really did heal the crippled man. The people saw the change. And the church had grown to 5,000.

The word had spread, it had gone viral, the truth was out. So, the leaders knew what they had to do: Stop the spread.

Verse 17: They said… “But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Anytime God does something through his church, the enemy tries to stop it. Through these leaders he’s going to try to stop God’s message from going out.

And believe me, the same is true for you. The enemy wants to keep you quiet about Jesus. Sure, you can come to church and worship him; Talk to other Christians about Jesus, but my goodness you better not talk to unbelievers. The devil gets very mad at that. “Keep it in church!” as someone said to me. My Answer: No.

Verse 18: “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

Stop. Talking. About. Jesus.

I often think about this in our city. There is no rule or law that says we can’t talk about Jesus to the people around us.

But there are powerful unwritten social rules. A silent pressure that weighs down on us: Don’t bring up politics, or religion. Don’t talk about that.

Keep quiet. Just talk about the weather.

No one says it out loud. But it’s just not polite to bring up Jesus, isn’t that it? It’s an unwritten rule. Religion is private. It’s none of your business. All the stuff the devil tells us, to keep us quiet about Jesus.

But, if it is the unwritten rule that we don’t talk about Jesus in our city, that is the one rule we must break. And I think we can do it in a way that will actually be received fairly well. I really do.

People are more open than I’ve ever seen to talk about God.

If we speak with love, and then listen, and then pray, and then speak with love, then listen, then pray, and speak with love about Jesus, then listen, and then pray, you’d be amazed how receptive someone can be.

It’s a very simply formula. You’re in a conversation. Bring up Jesus. "What do you think about Jesus? Did you know he died on the cross for your sins?" Then immediately begin listening with empathy, ask questions, keep listening, as you listen, pray in your heart for them, then make another statement about Jesus, then again listen, listen, and listen, pray as you listen, then make another statement about Jesus, listen, listen, listen, love on them. Make them feel understood and heard. Make them feel that they matter, because they do. Offer to pray with them, or invite them to church. Simple. Empathy, Love, Spirit. Those three together, they just can’t deny.

It does not matter how much they deny Jesus, or raise interesting questions, or push back, if you listen, and love, and speak in Spirit, they won’t forget your empathy, your love, or how God seemed to be with you.

Speak, Listen, Pray.

Spirit, Empathy, Love.

Next, verses 19-20: But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

We could stay silent... Obey the unwritten American rules. But, who should we obey? God or society? The Sanhedrin tells John and Peter to be silent. And they politely refuse. They even put the question back on them, “You be the judge, which is the right thing to do? Follow God or not?” We cannot help but speak about Jesus.

You must make a decision as well. I worry many of you already have. At times I do! We’ve decided to obey the old saying, don’t bring that up, instead of obeying the Bible. But let me challenge you today: Do you want to be liked, or do you want to be faithful? It’s time to speak up, politely, tactfully, with love, about Jesus.

And it will take courage. Boldness. Which God gives abundantly. Don’t be afraid. He is with you.

Make a decision today. A new choice.

Verse 21: “After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.”

In the future, we will face further threats as well. But if we know who we are, if we aren’t shaky in our identity, we can be courageous. If someone throws it back at us, or tries to stop us, we can brush it off, because we know exactly who we are. And their opinion, or words, won’t affect how we view ourselves.

But I must confess that I've struggled with this, I recall a time in my life I was doing ministry in Gary, IN. Momentum was beginning to build in my personal evangelism, one person, then another, then another, but one day after church I stopped at this donut shop. And I thought to myself, you know what I'm going to minister to the woman at the drive through window. I offered her a gospel tract and she said, "I don't believe in God." And I began to respond and she interrupted me and demanded that I pull my car forward. And I let that incident affect me in a negative way. I began to pull back. It was like I hit a brick wall. 

But I was shaky in my identity in Christ back then, I was going through a hard time in my life. And I let it affect my heart negatively. 

If we know our identity in Christ, we can brush that off, like dust from our feet, and say, "So what?" It doesn't matter at all. I know who I am. I know the God I serve. And I know the devil is trying to stop me so I'm going to go minister to three more people just for good measure. If you struggle like I once did, make this your prayer today... 

Prayer for Boldness: Father, in the name of Jesus we ask for boldness, we choose courage, we reject fear, and we embrace our identity in Christ. God we know who we are in you, and we will walk in it boldly, thank you Lord! But if we're hurt, we ask you to heal us, if we're nervous we'd ask you to help us choose courage, Lord we seek your mercy today, and we repent of keeping silent before you, we commit to speak up, by your power within, in Jesus name, amen. 

That Times of Refreshing May Come

What does a time of refreshing look like in someone’s life? It’s a time when things get better. They find encouragement. They take on a new attitude. New hope flows into their life. And it begins to feel like anything is possible.

Peter and John were walking to the temple in Jerusalem for prayer. And they came upon a man who couldn’t walk since birth. He was brought to this place to beg for money. He waited many years. Went through many sorrows. But one day, his day came.

Peter and John looked at the man, and he asked them for money. Instead, they took him by the hand and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, walk.” They helped him up immediately, and he began walking, jumping, and praising God.

A time of refreshing has come for this man. And he knows it through and through. For this message today, we will look at how Christians can help guide people toward times of refreshing. It can be a physical healing, like this event, but it can often be something else. It can be victory over depression. It can be choosing life after losing a loved one. It can be stepping out of a defeated mindset. It can be letting go of a relationship that didn’t work out.

But remember, not everyone is ready. So be it, move on to the next person. God will lead you toward those who are at the point of being ready to embrace change. 

This brings us to our scripture for today, Acts 3:11-22.

Verse 11: “While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.”

Why does God bring seasons of refreshing? For the person, of course. Because he loves us. But, he also does it as a witness to all the people they know, that the living God is real.

It caused quite a stir when I gave my life to Christ in my hometown in 2012. So many knew me as a troublemaker, the town wanderer. Many lives were impacted by the reality that I kept claiming it was Jesus who changed my life. I never knew how many people really accepted Christ by seeing my story; but I hope some did.

People come running to the area when they see the lame man walking. It reminds me of when something on social media goes viral. Someone posts something on X or Pinterest, Youtube, Facebook, and it takes off. Word spreads, a post that had a few hundred views suddenly has a 100,000, even a million. The healing of this man goes viral in the area. Peter knows exactly what to do: Opportunity from God.

Verse 12: When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"

The work of God often surprises us: We see someone change suddenly through Jesus and we are shocked. I remember when I got saved and sober, some told me, you did this, you need to take credit for it, and I kept saying no, I didn’t, it was the Lord. Not me!

Surprise is a natural reaction to the work of God. When I get an update on someone in the church and God has brought some new healing, their eyes are better, their wrist has no pain, they’re out of the hospital and feeling better, it’s amazing. We say: “Wow!”

Yet the crowd here assumes it must’ve been Peter and John who did it. But it wasn’t them. It wasn’t even because they were godly people. It was because Jesus had done something through them.

God made this man walk. But, he works through people. Always remember that. Too often I think we assume well if God wants it to happen it will. OK, but he works through people. And never forget the scripture where God said, I looked for someone to stand in the gap for me, but no one was found (Ezekiel 22:29-31). The result? Judah was taken into captivity. God chooses to use people, and if no person is available, it can be a serious problem. Then again, as it says in Esther, if you don’t stand up now, God may raise up someone else to do it for you (Esther 4:14).

God wants to use you.

Next, verse 13: "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus."

Peter instantly points the crowds to Jesus. And he connects the God of their ancestors, to the God of the present moment, who had really sent Jesus. 

It felt like many during that time felt God had stopped moving. God had sent the law through Moses, and that was it. No more revelation. We as modern Christians often get caught in this trap as well. God used to do stuff, but now we just read about what he did in a book. Wrong. God is still working and moving today. Don’t ever doubt it.

Next, Peter goes into the gospel: "13b You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”

Such a fascinating paradox, that times of refreshing come through the death of the Author of Life. But how often is that the case in our own lives? It took serious difficulties and problems for us to grow. It took devastating events for us to be humbled, for pride to finally be driven out, and then, suddenly, we were able to hear the voice of God, and want Him, because we’d been lowered low enough to realize our need for God.

Often a rock bottom, a dark destruction can lead to a humility, a reset inside us, that gives us another chance at life. Refreshing.

Jesus died for us. And God raised him from the dead. So he is our living savior, forever.

Jesus had to die, he had to be raised. It’s the same with us. We have to die to ourselves through sufferings, and then God raises us up again, and refreshes us. And ultimately, all of us will experience physical death and then be raised to life one day.

A disciple of Jesus desires for others to experience times of refreshing. So watch for those whom God has humbled, because they are often ready.

Peter continues: "16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”

Power in the name of Jesus Christ. We receive the power through our faith, which is given by Jesus to us. Who needs refreshing this morning? Who needs to be made strong? Trust in Jesus name. Act in that trust.

Do you really believe it’s real? Then act on it. As we believe in Jesus Christ more and more, that relationship overrides everything else, it overthrows lies we’ve believed, overthrows deceptions, overthrows addictions, overthrows everything that tries to hold us back. A growing faith in Jesus name, the Jesus who gives to us strength, the real Jesus.

Next, verses 17-18: “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.”

We once too acted in ignorance. We lived in sin. We chose to believe worldly things. We chose pleasures of life. We chose control. We chose to chase what we wanted. We chose an empty, hollow way. But, now we know better.

God forgives it all. Isn’t that amazing? And if you’re still caught in something, still missing the core of who Jesus is in your life, he can set you free from that too.

So we may choose by faith in His name, to truly and deeply believe. By that faith, we know the road we walk will include sufferings, for Jesus our example suffered. So we too shall suffer.

Share in suffering for Jesus. Taste it with Him. We must all taste some of the sufferings of Jesus. Know that, when you’re going through some sorrow because of your love for Jesus, a great reward awaits you.

The road to refreshing leads through suffering.

Verse 19: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord...”

Times of refreshing often come on the other side of repentance. Peter calls the people gathered around this miracle to repent of their sins, and turn to God.

Then their sins would be forgiven, if they would repent and trust in Jesus. And then, times of refreshing come, with the reception of Christ into our hearts.

We wander without Jesus. We go from here to there, empty and confused, accumulating trauma and pain, we hurt others and get hurt in return. We try to play god of our own life and we end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and in the wrong situation. But God keeps waiting, with an open hand saying: Return to me while there’s still time. Don’t go the way of death, choose life in me.

Times of refreshing can come for us… but there is often a barrier we must get through first.

It could be..

-seeking healing for a past trauma
-making amends to someone we harmed
-repenting of a sin we’ve kept hidden for too long
-forgiving someone who hurt us terribly
-doing that thing we know God wants us to do
-asking Jesus to soften our hardened heart
-letting go of control

On the other side of that difficult thing, and most of us know it, deep down we know what God wants us to do. It’s a bit difficult, but, on the other side is a season of refreshing.

And when we let down our guard, and really let Jesus in… we find in verse 20...

“...and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”

Call upon the name of Jesus. Let him into the center of your heart.

Make this your prayer today: “Jesus, come be with me, I need you now!”

And we know Jesus is with us. But, we know He also reigns in heaven right now.

Verse 21 says “Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

Healing, times of refreshing come. But, actual and total restoration we still wait for. Heaven received Jesus, after his resurrection. He is King there now. And we wait patiently for his return. We know when he does, our complete restoration will come. Not just seasons of refreshing, but a total restoration of our spirit, soul, and physical body. We long for that day. Because we will be one with Jesus on that day. It’s a promise. Believe. Hallelujah.

Lastly, verse 22: For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.”

Final word today, a disciple of Jesus listens to everything he tells us. Whether it’s a tough word or an encouraging word.

Everything he tells us. Jesus said, my words bring God's life giving spirit. And as we hear his words, we believe them. We believe Him. More and more, the Spirit flows. And so by faith we find seasons of refreshing. Live streams of living water bubbling up from within us.

John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

And again when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well: "13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” -John 4:13-14

If we truly and deeply believe in Jesus, living water flows from within us. This is a season of refreshing for us, when those streams of living water flow from within us, representative of the Holy Spirit.

But note the dual purpose of the streams of living water: they are not only for us but also, to flow to others through us. Just like Peter and John, when they spoke life over the man who couldn’t walk and he was healed, and got up dancing, and shouting and praising God!

A true disciple of Jesus is looking for those opportunities, to be a spring of living water to those who have been humbled by the sorrows of life and are ready for something new. Point them to Jesus. Walk with them through their sorrows. You can’t do it for them. But you can point them to the one who can make them new.

John 3:16 on the 250th Anniversary of our Nation

I’d like to bring us back 250 years to the American revolution in 1777, to one of the pivotal moments in the war. In 1775 and 1776, the war had been going poorly for the Americans. It was increasingly looking like the British would win the conflict. 

Washington's troops had been driven from New York, and were weakened by disease and lack of supplies. But Washington won a great victory on Christmas day by launching a sneak attack across the Delaware river to ambush and take prisoner British and Hessian forces in Trenton.

But there was a movement that took place immediately after Washington’s battle at Trenton that shifted the entire tone of the war, perhaps even more than Washington’s victory.

It’s come to be known as The Forage War in New Jersey. And it’s always inspired me. In the forage war there were a series of militias that sprung up on their own, without official government backing, to fight against the British forces under General Howe, in the midst of a deep dark winter.

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine called “Common Sense” had spread like wildfire through the colonies at that time, and had galvanized the people, to stand firm against the tyranny of great Britain. Another written by Paine called "The American Crisis" again inspired the colonists to fight bravely.

In the depths of winter the militias fought a campaign of a sneak attacks against British supply convoys, foraging teams, and troops marching through the area. In three months they’d inflicted over 1,000 casualties, and it caused General Howe to cease his invasion of New Jersey. This temporarily prevented the British from reaching Philadelphia, where the leaders of the revolution were gathered. Howe would eventually take Philadelphia, but the delay caused by the militias in New Jersey gave the congress time to escape the city before it was taken.

This situation from so long ago, reminds me of the current situation we face in the United States, spiritually.

We find ourselves in a great spiritual conflict for the heart of our nation, and to be honest, it’s not going well. We face vast demonic hordes, increases in witchcraft in our nation, secularism, progressivism, all sorts of ideologies, and powerful forces attempting to subvert Christianity in our society. It is fundamentally a spiritual conflict, not with people but with demonic forces, principalities and powers in high places.

We’ve often relied on big name leaders, Billy Graham, Rick Warren, John MacArthur, and so on, to rally the Christian movement. But today, I believe we must be more like the militias who rose up in New Jersey. We must rally against the darkness around us, in small groups, in homes, praying and fasting, proclaiming the gospel, witnessing, ministering, loving people, meeting needs, and uniting with others, to stand against the darkness in our nation. 

This spiritual conflict will not be won by big name evangelical leaders, but instead by average everyday Christians, gathering together to pray in each other’s homes, gathering together on street corners to minister to people, gathering together to form food pantries and homeless shelters, gathering to hand out bibles, and do prayer walks through their cities. That kind of grassroots movement can’t easily be stopped by the enemy, who is used to targeting the big name leaders and trying to cause them to fall, to scatter the sheep they serve.

But what the Lord made clear to me as I wrote this message was, He would move. The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will fight it, if we will pray and stand, not give up, we will stand against the darkness, and shine brightly for the Lord. And God will give us the victory. 

We must take the stand, but then God does the mighty work. Always remember that equation, or we will be doomed to silly self-based efforts that fail, or worse, morph into a kingdom of man.

We find ourselves a nation on the brink. But on the brink of what? We can all feel it. Like something is coming. Like we’re on the edge of something new.

A brink is an edge. And we find ourselves on two edges that I can perceive. We as a nation seem to be headed toward decline and darkness. Though the businesses keep running, the schools keep teaching, the hospitals keep healing, we see at the very center of the moral heart of our nation, there is a great sickness, a rebellion against God that is leading us toward ruin.

Yet at the same we see God at move in mighty ways in our nation. I believe, as we see the times get darker, we will see God reorient the body of Christ, molding us and shaping us into an army ready to serve in lockstep, at the same time I believe we will see revival fires across our nation, where many will give their lives to Christ and embrace real holiness.

I sought the Lord on what he desired me to preach on for the July 4th weekend, and he gave me John 3:16-21, to speak over our nation today. God’s plan of redemption for a people who have moved away from him.

So today we’re going to look at two pathways, the path of light and the path of darkness. And we’ll look at it from the lens of what God has provided as a solution, and the decision of man when presented with the options God gives.

Liberty is to have the freedom to make our own choices. But we can help the people around us to make a different choice, by showing them clearly, the pathways before them. The enemy works by deception, deceiving people carefully down a rosy path that leads to disaster. The good thing in this scenario is that there are always cracks in the deception. The deception is fundamentally empty, and the person caught in it begins to sense that, until it’s nearly unbearable. What God provides is love and truth linked together. Truth in it’s beauty and power crushes the deception rendering it powerless. But, the truth is not an easy truth to accept, and so many refuse it or avoid it, because it is a difficult pill to swallow.

So let’s dive in today, John 3:16-21.

Starting in verse 16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The single most famous bible verse in modern times. But let’s try to understand what it actually means.

Because of God’s love for humanity, he established a plan to save us from the sins that have held us captive. He gave us something. He gave us His Son, Jesus, the true God, come to Earth in the form of a little baby.

But there is a condition here. That whoever, anyone may, believe in him, doesn’t have to perish in their sins, but, may receive an almighty gift: immortality. To live forever in paradise with God.

God’s solution to the sin problem that started with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and their choice to disobey God, and which has continued through the ages, to Cain killing Abel, and Noah’s family on the ark, and down through the ages, of world wars, and genocides, to this very moment today, is Jesus Christ himself, he is God’s solution to the problem.

The solution is the cross. We may not like it. We may not fully understand it. But there it is. God’s simple, yet profound solution. Forgiveness of our sins. And freedom to live in holiness each day. And this means, we’re able to attend heaven, because, heaven is a place without sin.

So every man and woman born stands at the crossroads, with this option in front of them: Receive Jesus and eternal life, or Reject Jesus, and perish. It’s as simple as that.

Let’s keep going, verses 17-18: "17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

The purpose of God sending Jesus was not to condemn us, but to offer us the option to be saved from what’s coming. But, whoever doesn’t receive Jesus is already condemned, because they have not embraced the solution God has provided.

So lets break this down, if we believe, we are on the “not condemned” path.

If we don’t believe, we are on the condemned path. However, there is an interesting factor, your path can change.

One who doesn’t believe can come to believe, and they join the path of eternal life. Then again someone on the eternal life path can fall away and turn their back on Christ, and rejoin the condemned path.

This concept of the two paths is laid out in much greater detail in Ezekiel 33:12-19.

So every human being is on one of those two paths, the path to eternal life or the path to condemnation. There is no middle ground, no 3rd option.

But what’s interesting is groups of humans can be a particular path, like a nation. And what path is our nation on? That is the question. Thankfully, the course of nations can be changed, by people who doggedly pursue a mission to change it. God help us to do that for our nation, and let it start here, in our little city.

Next in verses 19-20, we get an explanation of how and why salvation plays out the way it does in the world.

It says: "19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed."

This is telling us why human beings resist and refuse the light that God offers. It’s a paradox when you think about it, a difficult situation.

Light has come into the world, that’s Jesus and all he taught. But human beings prefer darkness, because of the wrong things they’ve done. So you may minister to someone and you’ll notice they repel away from the message you bring about Jesus, why? Because the light that is emanating from you, which is Jesus, scares them, they don’t want their sins exposed by the light, so they turn away from it. And they don’t want to have to stop sinning, because they enjoy or prefer their sins, or they’ve just become so used to them. And they don’t want someone telling them what to do.

For years I avoided Jesus because I knew I’d have to stop drinking, I’d have to stop chasing women, and I’d have to let Jesus be the Lord of my life. That keeps people away there’s no doubt.

There is a fear that the light will expose our evil deeds, which it certainly does, but there’s more to it than that, as we well know.

The late Stephen Hawking said, "Religion is a fairy story for those afraid of the dark." John Lennox the famous mathematician responded: "Atheism is a fairy story for those afraid of the light."

Verse 21: "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

The thing about living in the darkness is that it’s very dark. And as it gets darker, the darkness becomes empty. And that emptiness weighs us down. I walked this path personally, and we suffer unto we reach the point we finally begin to ask the question: What is really real?

So begins a journey toward the truth.

And as Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free..." -John 8:32

Then one who begins a spiritual journey, they begin to ask the question what is really true? They start a journey toward whatever might be out there. Why? Out of sheer necessity. The emptiness of pleasure and pain of life has led them to a blessed desperation for something different. That perhaps is the beginning of a path of “living in the truth” as the scripture states here.

And living in the truth leads to the light. Notice, it says we come into the light. We don’t just look at it. We become one with the light. The light then changes us. 

For some of you today, I worry that you look at the light which is Jesus, but you’ve not come into the light, which is to dive into His depths and fall in love with him completely. Looking at God and saying "I like that" is outward religion. Going into the depths of God is true life.

On the journey toward truth, we finally come into the light. The light does just what we feared it would do, it exposes our sins, and we are accountable to God. They have been done in the sight of God. We admit that’s a reality. It’s just as much a reality whether we admit it or not. But when we admit it in God’s sight we find, when we ask Jesus, he forgives our sins. And we find ourselves in the light, exposed, and shockingly, entirely made clean, by God.

So, humans stay away from God for fear their sins will be revealed. They hide in the darkness, but God sees all anyway. In the darkness, they suffer far from God, with emptiness, and this often leads to a spiritual journey, a hunger for the truth, and that truth path leads to Jesus. They finally let their guard down, they walk into the light, and instead of finding death, they find new life in Jesus.

They pay the cost of allowing Jesus to be the king of their life, they pay the cost of having to give up their past sins. And they find the cost was well worth it, because it has yielded a road to eternal life. 

Now the opposite path is also real, and many choose it. In the darkness of sin, as they suffer they harden their heart, pulling back and turning away, as God draws them toward the path of truth. They choose to fabricate a false reality around themselves based on the deceptions that exist in the world. They trade in truth for pleasures, without even fully realizing the cost of what they're doing. 

It reminds one of Narnia, when Edmund is offered the Turkish delight, the ice queen continues to feed him it, until she has him in an ice prison. Such is the way of many of this world, but, there is always hope while a human draws breath, for a new beginning with Christ, and an escape from the prisons of deception. 

So in conclusion today, we will continue to see the world get darker as the world flees the light of God, but at the same time light houses will rise up, fires of God and those hungry for something real will come to those lights and be changed by them.

It is a great challenge before us. We must show mercy to those in darkness, great mercy. We must understand, that when all you’ve known is darkness, raised in it, taught it, taught the light is a lie, taught the light is evil or unjust, of course you flee! It may appear like a "catch 22", an unbreakable cycle. Without God it would be.

But, there is a grace flowing like a million streams throughout the world, flowing over the hearts and minds of captured souls, that provides a miraculous escape from this all encompassing deceptive system around us. 

And when one brave broken soul brings their sinful disaster into God’s light he doesn’t condemn them, he heals them, forgives them, changes them forever, and slowly makes them into the person they were always meant to be.

For our nation →  Pray, rally to the revival fires, unite with believers, share resources, outlast the night, for daybreak is coming, when Jesus returns. In the meantime work diligently in his harvest field, for a great harvest is coming, if we do not give up.

We must be like the militias in New Jersey, doggedly fighting, never giving up, but always remember our enemy is not flesh and blood, but spiritual, our enemies are demonic powers. And our only weapon is love. We will gather in groups, inspired and on fire for the Lord, ministering to the cities, praying and fasting, casting out the devils, calling on heaven’s angels, and standing firm as the darkness gets darker, because we know, in the deeper darkness, the light shines ever brighter.

Related Posts:

• Perfecting Holiness out of Reverence for God
• Repentance is the Seed of Revival: Letter to the Church of Laodicea
• The Beacons of Revival are Spreading: The Battle at Osgiliath & the Beacons of Gondor

Acts 2: The Birth of the Christian Church

A survey of hundreds of pastors has allowed us to compile a preliminary list of measurable quality factors in the life of a congregation in ranking order. The twelve factors are:

1. Bible knowledge. Church members are increasing in their grasp of the teachings of the Bible. They can integrate this with a theological system that enables them to apply the Bible's teachings to their life situation.

2. Personal devotions. Members spend time daily in prayer, Bible reading, meditation, and other personal spiritual exercises.

3. Worship. Members regularly participate in the worship services scheduled by the church. 

4. Witnessing. Members regularly attempt to share their faith in Jesus Christ with unbelievers.

5. Lay ministry. The lay people of the church are engaged in such ministries as teaching and discipling. In some cases this happens through consciously discovering, developing, and using their spiritual gifts.

6. Missions. The church actively supports missions, organizing and sustaining a strong program for recruiting, sending, and financing home and foreign missionaries.

7. Giving. Members give an appropriate portion of their income to the local church and/or to other Christian causes. 

8. Fellowship. Members are growing in their personal relationships with each other through regular participation in church fellowship groups of one kind or another.

9. Distinctive life-style. Members generally manifest their faith in Christ by living a life-style clearly and noticeable distinct from that of non-Christians in the same community.

10. Attitude toward religion. Church members regard their involvement in the church primarily as a service to God rather than a means to fulfill personal needs.

11. Social service. Members are serving others outside the congregation. This includes direct personal involvement with the poor and needy, or in programs designed to help the needy. 

12. Social justice. Either through the congregation as a whole or through specialized Christian agencies, members are striving to make changes in sociopolitical structures that will contribute to a more moral and just society. 

-C. Peter Wagner, Leading Your Church to Growth, Regal Books, 1984, pp. 25-27.

What a list… I looked it over the other night and I thought to myself, something is missing from this list. Something absolutely essential. It's the leading of the Holy Spirit. It's the presence of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer. It's love. Now these are all things a Christian does, but, we are not defined by these things, if these things are done correctly they are all flowing from a deep love relationship with God.

When the Holy Spirit moves, not man made agendas, but the Holy Spirit, lives are changed. It reminds me of an event that happened two thousand years ago, when Peter spoke to a crowd, on a very special day... 

Peter stood confidently in front of a crow of thousands of pilgrims, who had traveled from across the empire for the great festival of Weeks, called Shavuot, exactly 50 days after the Passover.

They hung on his every word, as he spoke confidently, yet humbly about all the things Jesus had done. A holy awe seemed to cover the pilgrims, eyes locked on Peter, ears hanging on each word spoken in the poured out Holy Spirit that ministered through him.

They were glued to his words, they felt something so beautiful, and whether they knew it or not, it was the presence of God and pleasure of God over everything taking place that day. It drew them.

It felt wonderful, and drawing, and yet at the same time it was so convicting, such a difficult thing, their flesh pulled away as their spirit was drawn near.

At last Peter came to the end of the message he spoke to the crowds.

We will be in Acts 2:36-47 today.

Acts chapter 2, starting in verse 36: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

A great silence fell, and the crowds must’ve looked around at each other in complete shock at what they were experiencing. To hear the gospel in their own languages, to see the flames of fire descend on the disciples, and now to hear this Spirit-powered message from Peter, they were stunned.

Verse 37: When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

The people are absolutely moved to their very hearts. They were cut by the word of God, which is sharper than any double-edged sword, to the very core. And they gathered around the apostles and said, “What do we do?”

We’ve all been here before. This is the entry point into the body of Christ. Every one of us at some point, maybe when we were very young and we heard the message in church, maybe when we were older, and someone ministered to us, maybe someone invited us to a meeting and we didn’t really want to go, but something seemed to draw us in; We were brought before the message about Jesus. And it cut us to the heart. We felt it through and through, I need this. And we made a decision, the Holy Spirit moved, we received Jesus Christ, as our savior, and our hearts changed forever.

Today we’re talking about Christian community and how it functions. And I hope we’ll see it today from two angles, first Christian community is what Peter and the apostles did at Pentecost, they spoke to the unsaved crowds, and presented them with the gospel. That is a chief end of the body of Christ, to invite others to encounter Jesus. And secondly, I hope today we’ll see, what Christian community looks like within, in worship, prayer, fellowship, and holiness.

Let’s continue.

Verses 38-39: Peter replied, 38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

The gospel requires a response, and it looks like this: Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ. The result: Your sins are forgiven. The enduring presence of God is the gift of the Holy Spirit within you. And this promise is what we hold to in hard times.

Repentance – changing our mind (and actions)

Baptism – the new birth symbolized

In the name of Jesus – the provider of our salvation

Sins being forgiven – the sacrifice-gift of Jesus

Gift of the Holy Spirit – God with you going forward, to train you and guide you

The Promise – after the excitement wears off, and the baptism clothes get dry, we hold to the promise, for our whole lives. 

And we’re immediately reminded, this promise is not just for us, so we should immediately be excited and impassioned that others ought to know this Jesus who changed our lives.

Next, verse 40: With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Peter shared many other thoughts that day, what we see in Acts 2 is only a portion of the message he gave. And it says he warned them. A warning is necessary along with the gospel: Ignore this message at your own risk.

There is a danger to ignoring the message and going on our way. It means our sins remain unforgiven. But the pull Peter understood is the culture around them. If everyone else is headed one direction, most people will follow along, even if it’s the wrong way. "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." They were surrounded by a corrupt generation, and there comes a safe feeling from being around others doing the same thing as you. It makes you feel like it must be right. But Peter reminds them, just because the majority says its true doesn’t mean it’s actually true. God defines truth.

Pull yourself away from the conformity of sin. Pull yourself away from the stream headed the wrong way. Peter knew it was the deceitfulness of corruption that leads people astray. Deception is like a blinding web that holds us hostage. We too live in a generation where there is a lot of corruption and bondage. And we must come to Jesus to saves ourselves from the path our world is following, and help others to find freedom too 

Verse 41: “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

3,000 people were baptized. Not 30. not 300. 3000. Imagine if 3,000 unsaved people in Traverse City got saved. It would change this city forever.

But there were more than 3,000 people in the city that day, there were many more I’m sure who heard Peter’s message, and decided they didn’t believe or want what he was sharing.

But Peter made sure they got to hear the message, and make a decision, even if they made the wrong one. It’s amazing how one sermon, one message can change your life forever. 

And it’s amazing how valuable it is to attend a church service. The value we gain is not something we can tangibly understand, but we all know it. We can sense it the rest of the week. I worshiped the Lord, and I heard the word, and I left energized.

In working with so many in the Salvation Army, we fed many people, we had meals 5 days a week at the facility I used to lead, produce and baked goods, food pantry, all of it, but it was astonishing to me, how much these people would value the food we were giving away, but, they couldn't quite comprehend the value of a church service. The value is as real and indeed much more real and tangible than a physical meal.

Which brings us to the second half of our message today, the fellowship of believers. The first section dealt with how people enter the fellowship of believers, now, we discuss what it’s like once we’re within the church.

But keep this warning clear in your mind, if we lose touch with the first portion of our message, which is to be out getting people saved, the church diminishes, because it is no longer fulfilling it’s duty of helping the unsaved know Christ.

Next, verse 42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Here we find internal community activities.

It says they devoted themselves, the Greek word for devoted here is "proskarteréō, pros-kar-ter-eh'-o; from G4314 and G2594; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):—attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually)." -Strong's Concordance

It implies following closely, being constant to one thing, steadfastly attentive to.

Four things are listed here, and I think we should all mimic this behavior of the early church:

-Apostles Teaching - they devoted themselves to the word of God, for us today, that means the Bible and the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives.

-Fellowship - they devoted themselves to fellowship, they spent time with other believers to strengthen each other, we do this through small groups and prayer meetings and special events.

-Breaking of bread - they met in each other's homes and ate meals together, this signified a deeper level of connection, and it's something we need to get better at today in the body of Christ. This is next level fellowship, not just saying "hi" on Sunday, or even small groups together, but deep friendships and mentoring relationships. 

-Prayer - they devoted themselves to prayer, deep times of prayer and contemplation, fasting and seeking God for extended periods of sweet intimacy with God, on their faces before God pleading for the lost and persecuted. 

As we do those things, we become increasingly excited, and our devotion builds like a fire within us, of excitement, joy, as we chase God more and more excitedly. Joyously. This process is a process of building momentum, with great joy. And love flourishes in that environment.

Next, verse 43: "Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles."

The apostles were performing many of the same signs and wonders that Jesus performed in the gospels, and this filled the Christian community with awe.

And those same kinds of miracles still happen today. God still heals people through prayer today. God still gives prophecies through his prophets. God still raises the dead. God still brings about revivals.

It’s the mark of God’s presence with the church. And it confirms that the message is true to the non-believers. It’s one thing when someone says Jesus is Lord, but it’s quite another when a Christian comes and prays for their sick loved one and they are healed. Suddenly, the message has a powerful credibility. Its one thing for a Christian to tell them about Jesus, which we should, but, it takes on a new power when a prophet comes up and shares a word from God that speaks right into their heart.

The power and presence of God confirms the message. It doesn’t always have to be a divine healing or a prophetic word though, often, it’s simply love, they sense the aroma of heaven on you, and they can sense the power of the anointing of the words you speak about Jesus. But miracles are real in the church, and we shouldn’t ignore them, even if we’ve had a bad taste in our mouth about the miraculous.

Next, verse 44-45: 44 "All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."

This acts early church had everything in common. What does that mean? They were truly and deeply united. And they were obeying a particular teaching of Jesus.

From Matthew 18:19-20: 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Jesus taught his disciples, if you are united, and you agree together, it will be done by the Father. And where two or three are gathered, God will be with them. It requires us to gather together, and to agree together. How can we have that kind of unity?

That unity comes from God, and it comes from a sincere submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading within the body. It is the joy of knowing we are all moving in the same direction, and that unity is created by yielding to the joyous guidance of the Holy Spirit. It produces joy. It produces peace. It produces an excitement. It produces shared actions. And it leads to great love. Real love among the believers.

Not only that, it lead to mutual care. They were selling property and possessions to provide financially for anyone who was in need.  And that is a beautiful thing. But I think more and more we’re going to need to share resources and possessions as the world grows darker. We will need to truly rely on each other.

Next, verse 46: "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…"

Every day they met together, it says. Not once a week. But every day. They were on fire. And you’ll notice we’ve setup our church to have opportunities for fellowship and ministry almost every day, Monday women's group, Tue grace point cafe, Wed bible study, Thurs prayer group, and hopefully in the future, even more opportunities.

They also met in each other’s homes, and that’s something we need to get back to doing more often, getting together in each other’s homes, and fellowshipping together.

This consistent daily fellowship led to two things mentioned here: Gladness, and sincere hearts.

Lastly, verse 47: (they were) "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

This pulls it all together, fellowship in the church is praising God. Worship is so very powerful and has a tangible effect on our soul, our spirit, even our body. It’s real, real as a meal, real as anything.

Worship changes us. Don’t just worship for 10 minutes on Sunday morning. Worship in your car, worship at home, and worship isn’t just singing Christian songs, it’s contemplating God, it’s looking out upon a lake, and saying wow, God made this, and marveling at who God is, it’s reading his word and being in awe of it’s wisdom. All of those, are different forms of worship.

In this season, the early church enjoyed the favor of all the people, even non-believers around them were amazed at what God was doing, they couldn’t deny the love they were seeing. In that season they were united completely, active and on fire, connecting daily, and worshiping God as one. That is God’ s design for the church.

And it says the Lord blessed this faithful activity by adding to their number daily, those whom God was active in saving.

He caused growth, even daily, new people were coming to know Christ through this united early church movement. And I’ve seen God doing beautiful things here, sending you all out, to minister to others, and then they come, and begin to grow in community. That’s a beautiful thing.

In conclusion, let us have today a two pronged battle plan. We make it our goal to help win unbelievers to Christ in this city. We make it key. We make it central. And we don’t get lost in the internal activities of the church, we stay focused externally on helping the lost know Jesus, just as Peter did when he preached to the crowds in Acts 2.

Yet we also just as much focus in on fellowship with another, and a heartfelt humble unity, a Spirit led community, on fire and excited, and all moving in the same direction, growing in grace day by day; All of it causing an ever-growing love, like a fire among us, welling up, to growth, awakening, even, revival. May it be so Lord, amen.

Related Posts:
Spirit Birthed, Spirit Empowered

How to Make a Difficult Decision as a Christian

The Miraculous Power of the Holy Spirit