Serving Without Fear

Acts 4:1-10

William Carey- the father of what’s called the modern missions movement- encountered great opposition from his Baptist brethren when he wrote An Enquiry into the Obligation of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. Surprisingly, Baptists known to be people of the Bible, held a view that is not commonly held today. They believed, at least these Baptists, the Great Commission had already been fulfilled. They also believed that there was no need for evangelism and missions because God would save those He wanted in His own time. So for Carey to in 1792 to write his pamphlet and propose through his research and observations of the world that the work was incomplete was a danger to the careful balance of the life of the church. I can imagine some of the arguments and responses he received. Yet through his determination and commitment to what he saw as the command and leading of the Lord, he was used to begin the largest missions movement the world has ever seen. I would say in terms of missionaries sent, this is greater than after Pentecost. As a result of this movement, the American Baptist Convention was formed which later developed into the Northern and Southern Baptist Conventions. The Southern Baptist Convention holding the claim to the largest missions agency in the world. There are estimates that may no longer be true, but currently the SBC IMB employs over 5,000 missionaries. That is International alone.

What if William Carey had abandoned his position and went on with life as usual, the way we’ve always done it? Where would we be today? Well, God would have raised someone else up? What if God had chosen to raise that other person up centuries later? Without the leadership of Carey, there are now millions of souls worshipping in heaven who wouldn’t have had the chance prior to his moving among the church.

William Carey served God without fear. In our passage today we see three truths in our passage that demonstrate serving without fear.

Luke was presenting to the early church what was going on within the church and how the spirit was at work and spreading the gospel concerning Jesus. Peter and John have been used of God to produce one of the most remarkable miracles I am sure many of these people have ever seen. And because of this miracle they are arrested and thrown into prison for the night. Amazing how they were treated. They are less than Christ yet they get their trial during the day as the Jewish law requires, yet Christ had His trial at night against the laws of Jewish society.

In verses 1-3 we see that Peter and John were still speaking to the people and the priests and other religious leaders were disturbed by what was going on. As they were in their place they could see the commotion from Peter and John, they were jealous of the crowd they had gathered and so they sought to end it. They were still upset over this Jesus guy. They wanted His name silenced. The more you attempt to silence it, the louder it becomes. In the middle of their teaching the people, the temple guards come and lay hands on them. They come and physically drag them away. The consequences do not determine whether or not to serve or proclaim. That is the first truth. What is the first or immediate response to our work does not determine the worth of that work. If Peter and John had taken this arrest and thought this was God’s word to them to stop where would we be today? Where would God’s church be today? We can’t allow one setback to stop the work of the church. If we as a church had set an official goal of 100 children for VBS, would we allow our actual totals for VBS to mean that wasn’t God’s activity for us? If you sensed that God had called you into the ministry and then you couldn’t go to college, would you believe that to mean that you were wrong? Obstacles come in our lives to prevent us from doing God’s will, but they are for the growth of our faith and not the ending of God’s work. Peter and John go on to demonstrate a mighty faith in the face of the ones who sought Jesus and His death. This arrest was meant for the destruction of their faith by one and the development of their faith by another. Consequences do not determine the validity of the work.

The text tells us in verse 4 that as a result of their teaching that many believed. While Peter and John were sitting in prison, they probably had no clue that many people came to faith. Verse 4 tells us that the number of the men came to five thousand. The idea is that their households probably were of the faith as well. These were of the church universal but the emphasis is on the fact that they believed that Jesus is Lord. He is their Savior.

Verse 5 tells us who is involved in this trial and opposition. The elders and scribes. Those who are supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the people of Israel. The religious leaders of Israel. The heads of the tribes. The ones who are commanded to teach and lead the coming generations of God and His work, they are the ones who are attempting to stop the work of God. It is as if the deacons of the church today were to go to a pastor and tell him to stop being so evangelistic or go to a Sunday School class that was having great success in bringing in the lost and told them to stop growing. Verse 6 tells us that those who are of high priestly descent were there as well. What I see as so ironic in this verse is that the high priests of Israel are opposing the high priest of the church. Hebrews tells us that Jesus is our High Priest. The high priest was the one who stand before God on behalf of the people, and the earthly high priests are opposing the High Priest. The high priest is the advocate for the people and yet they are the accusers of the people at this time. Verse 7 tells us that Peter and John were brought before the council and asked, “By what name do you do this?” They obviously were not listening to the sermon.

Verse 8 tells us that our second truth which is that the Spirit will guide and lead. The text tells us that Peter responded being filled with the Holy Spirit. What a comfort! When you stand trial for your witness, the Spirit will give you the words to defend yourself. He is actually defending you. When you don’t know what to say other than, I am innocent of any crime but guilty of preaching the gospel, the Spirit will give you the words you need to present your answer. As you look at Peter’s response, he basically shares the gospel with them. The only response to the charges of sharing the gospel of Christ is the gospel. When people tell you or you hear people say, “We don’t need more evangelism. Stop evangelizing, it’s offensive to people.” My question is, “Who is then going to tell them?” If no one tells them, then they have no chance. Someone must tell them. Peter stands before his accusers and gives them the chance. He faithfully continues to proclaim the wondrous gospel of Christ.

As the writers of the Bible were filled with the Spirit so will God’s people when they seek to be the proclaimers of the Good News. If you seek to glorify God through the proclamation of His word to all the nations, you will be filled with the Spirit to proclaim.

Verse 9 tells us more of what Peter said to his accusers. He says, “If we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man.” Basically this is a good work. Which is our third truth. The work of serving God without fear is a good work. The proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the earth, to the sheep who are scattered, the ones who live in darkness. This is a good work. You have heard the old saying, The end justifies the means. Well, the church is not responsible for making the end take place. We are responsible for the means. The process, the doing is to be done by the church. God has called us to His service and to stand and proclaim to the darkness. Are you willing to serve and see a good work take place?

What is more important, our comfort and physical safety or obedience and the possibility of others coming to faith? In September we will have the opportunity to open our doors to the community. We will have many more details next week, but we are planning a picnic that will be advertised in the papers and flyers hanging up around the community inviting anyone and everyone to come. We will have the opportunity to welcome them and hopefully develop some relationships that will open doors to ministering to our community. On that day, for those of us who meet strangers everyday, what is more important, our comfort or seeking to make relationships and minister to needs? This is a good work. May we serve in such a way that we demonstrate that belief.

In Richard Wurmbrand’s book Tortured for Christ he tells the story of a minister in Hungary who was confronted by a Soviet commander. The minister was asked by the commander to meet with him privately. So they entered a conference and closed the door for privacy. The commander looked at the minister and pointed to the cross on the wall and said, “You know that thing is a lie. It’s just a piece of trickery you ministers use to delude the poor people to make it easier for the rich to keep them ignorant. Come now, we are alone. Admit to me that you never really believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God!” The minister responded and said, “But, my poor young mad, of course I believe it. It is true.” The captain loudly resonded, “I won’t have you play these tricks on me! This is serious. Don’t laugh at me!” He pulled out his revolver and pointed it into the body of the minister and said, “Unless you admit to me that it is a lie, I’ll fire!” He responded, “I cannot admit that, for it is not true. Our Lord is really and truly the Son of God.” The captain threw his gun to the floor and embraced the minister. He cried to him, “It is true! It is true! I believe so, too, but I could not be sure men would die for this belief until I found it out for myself. Oh thank you! You have strengthened my faith. Now I too can die for Christ. You have shown me how.”

As we close two points of response.

Serving despite opposition creates a stronger faith.

In the face of opposition, as you see God work, your faith will be strengthened.

The final result is what we seek.

What happens immediately may not be what we are seeking. Make disciples. But the final result is what we seek, the making of disciples. We may have to attempt many different outreach opportunities before we see that take place.

May God grant us strength as we seek to do His will. May the temporary setbacks and earthly opposition merely strengthen our faith rather than tear us down and apart.