Saturday, August 19, 2006

Consequences of Faithfulness

Acts 4:21-31

Throughout his career WW Hamilton served as a professor of evangelism, secretary of evangelism for the then Home Mission Board, and president of the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans. He was a distinguished professor and denominational leader. He served churches in VA and KY with varying degrees of success. He supported and promoted evangelistic crusades which gave him denominational fame. He moved to New Orleans to pastor a church shortly before the Great Depression would hit. The SBC launched the 75 million campaign which was to be the foundational money for the Cooperative Program. Hamilton’s church was one of the few who met their pledge. The Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans elected Hamilton as their president. The situation was dire. The school had $85,000 due in one year, and a total debt of over $350,000, plus no endowments to fund the school. Through the skills, knowledge and gifts the Lord had equipped Hamilton with throughout his lifetime, the school not only became debt free but began to flourish through a time that so many others collapsed and failed. At the end of his distinguished career Hamilton made an unfortunate mistake. What had been a remarkable lifetime became stained and tarnished due to one mistake. Hamilton was seeking a wife and chose to marry a young lady by the name of Catherine Hancock. You are probably wondering what is wrong with her? It was his niece. Recognizing the error he quickly filed for annulment but the tarnish and stain was there.

There are consequences for every action. Most of the time we think of consequences as negative and disastrous. For instance, there are consequences for building a city below sea level on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. But there are consequences for refusing to be found in a compromising situation with your master’s wife. There are consequences for faithfully praying for a husband for over 23 years. There are consequences for faithfully disciplining yourself to follow after the Lord.

In our text we see the consequences of the disciples faithfully submitting to the Spirit of the Lord. We see what took place in their hearts and minds following their persecution before the religious leaders of the day. Today we see three consequences of faithfulness to the Lord.

First we see that the people will glorify God. The text tells us in verse 21, “And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which they might punish them) on account of the people.” The leaders were fearing the people at this point. They feared what would happen if they were to further persecute Peter and John. They saw how the people loved what they had seen. Isn’t that amazing? The religious leaders are not the favorites. Could it be that God’s favor is no longer with them? Could it be that the people have now found the hope they have been longing for? Or are the people merely being entertained? What does our text say next? “Because they were all glorifying God for what had happened.” If they were glorifying God, then that means that the people recognize the source of the miracle! They recognize that the source of the work was not the men Peter and John, but actually God himself! Peter and John are mere men who followed the prompting of the Spirit. They are mere men who faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The miracle was not them but God! The results were not them but God! The fact that people are now glorifying God is not them but the Spirit who brings new life into the hearts of man.

Do you want to see new life? Do you want to see people being made new? You have the opportunity awaiting you. On September 23, our community BBQ will allow each one of you the opportunity to establish a friendship with someone who is not a member of this church. First we all need to invite someone. I challenge you to invite 5 people who are not relatives or a member of this church. Then at the BBQ take the time to establish a friendship/relationship with someone you do not know. Then after the picnic contact them and maintain that relationship. While all of this is going on, pray that the Lord would allow this to happen. Pray that the Lord would make clear the opportunity and that you would be bold to do what is necessary to make this happen.

The point of establishing this relationship is to allow through genuine friendship someone to come to Christ. To allow the opportunity for someone else to glorify God.

The second consequence we see is that the church will be devoted to prayer. Further down we see in verse 23 that Peter and John went back to their companions and reported all that had happened to them. The response of the people is found in verses 24-30. When they heard what had happened they prayed to God. They lifted up their voices. They made their praise of God heard by him and then they requested for boldness in the face of persecution! When they saw the beginnings of trouble they didn’t start blaming one another they sought their God! When the trouble in the world started brewing they didn’t start to wonder well who did we offend? They didn’t wonder what went wrong with the implementing of this program? They didn’t wonder well did we have the right people leading us? They didn’t wonder what sin is in society that would cause this? They went straight to God for leading, guidance and boldness and sought him for the accomplishment of His will. Their hearts are committed to the work of Christ and the proclaiming of salvation through Him, and when anything hinders that work they seek God to overcome the obstacle. Prayer is the communion of saints and the Savior. When they saints are seeking their Savior they are allowing themselves to be focused upon the one who directs and is supreme over all things. Prayer is the greatest weapon and source of strength that a Christian could possess, and so often we overlook or misuse that opportunity.

The thrust of missions in the twentieth century was founded in prayer. On college and university campuses around the world saw some of the greatest revivals and prayer gatherings the world has ever seen. At Aberdeen university the regular chapel service saw many people openly and publicly repenting of their sins. One student who slept through chapel that day got up for his regular class schedule. As he was walking to campus over an hour after chapel had concluded he saw no one walking but himself. He finally went to the chapel to find everyone else there worshipping, praying and seeking the Lord for forgiveness. This launched a prayer emphasis in the lives of many. Prayer is essential to the mission of the church. Without prayer the Christian is weak and helpless.

The third consequence of faithfulness that we see is that the church will proclaim with confidence. In verse 29 the church is praying for confidence and boldness as they proclaim. But verse 31 tells us that the place where they had gathered was shaken. The power of God was with them. Do we shake and tremble before God or do we think we can just casually walk before God? We approach God with confidence because of and through Christ’s righteousness. Without Christ we had better fear God! Even with Christ we should fear God but approach him with confidence because of Christ. Do we expect the mighty and supernatural God to shake the foundations of where we live?! Then verse 31 says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Not only did they possess the Spirit but they were filled with the Spirit. We only get one filling of the Spirit but the idea here is that the Spirit was in control of them. The Spirit directed their actions, words, and thoughts. The people were submitted to the will of God through the Spirit. Then their prayer is answered and it is recorded here for us to see. They began to speak the word of God with boldness. Notice back in verse 23 it says they went to their companions. And when they had heard this, the companions heard this, they lifted their voices to God. Verse 31 tells us when they had prayed. Then finally they began to speak with boldness. This is the companions of Peter and John. The people of God proclaimed not just the apostles. The people are still expected to proclaim. It is still perfectly natural for all Christians to proclaim. “Well, pastor I am not eloquent or knowledgeable. I can’t do it.” Well, you have a Bible at home. These people didn’t. “Well, it was a different time. They weren’t as busy as we are today.” Well, maybe we need to slow down and focus more on God than making money or other issues in life that control our lives.

If we spent more time studying God’s word, prayer, and proclaiming the more fulfilling life would become for us all. Life will still have its struggles and disappointments but the essence of life will be fulfilling. At the end of life we will be satisfied that we have served God well.

Some thoughts of response as we close.

  1. What is your ultimate goal for life? Do you live to please God and hear well done good and faithful servant?
  2. What do you want God to do with you? What do you want to God to accomplish through you?
  3. What do you desire to see God do in your community?

If your desires for life are not focused on God, then pray that God would direct you to His will. If you desire to see God do something in your community pray that God will do it and do it through you.

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