Participators Not Spectators by Phil Kinney
Acts 2: 40 – 47 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
As we continue our series on mission I want us to examine the beginning of the church. Pentecost has occurred, the Holy Spirit is poured out, a crowd gathers and Peter starts to preach. This is where we pick things up. I want to look at particular words through this passage as they give us the keys to successful Christian living, the keys to being a truly missional church.
As we heard last week being missional is not just about out there – sending money, people, resources to those far away. Being missional is doing these things, but it is also reaching out here that our community may know Christ. We have a local missional responsibility, and Acts demonstrates what it is to be a missional people together.
1. Be saved from this perverse generation: we need to make a decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour – but this is also an ongoing decision. As Saviour we accept forgiveness from our sins and we are saved. But as Lord – this is a time thing. Lord means surrender of our will and purpose from the perverseness or this could be translated “crooked” – not straight. It is surrendering our will, our attitude, our desires to be in line with Gods. Too many people are “Kingdom Spectators”. They say “if God wants it to happen he’ll make it happen”.
But this is not how it works. He achieves His will through us. He wants to use you to do great things – we see further on in v43 many wonders and signs were done through the apostles because they were surrendered and obedient. The apostles did what they could, and God met them at their faith action and did His part to bring the situation to fruition, and great signs and wonders and miracles occurred.
But somewhere in the history of the church the thinking has crept in that if God wants it to happen He will do it, like He will move us so we can’t resist – like robots to make it happen. This is not so! God made you with free will, and He wants to work through you but you have to be surrendered to His will, and step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. This is what faith is – RISK! We have allowed secular and even cultish thinking in that says God will just do it and we don’t have a part to play.
But the book of James tells us that faith without action is dead – it is no faith. We have to stop thinking like the world that says what ever will be will be, and start taking authority and using our Christ like authority and changing the world.
Last week Ps Neville said how he prayed for the 10 families on His street, and kept on praying. And because of His prayer 7 families got saved. Would they have got saved if he hadn’t prayed?? NO!!! Because that would be contrary to what the Bible tells us. Prayer changes things – not spectating!!! Speaking the Word of God changes things – not spectating!! Taking the authority God has given us in the name of Jesus changes things – not passively watching and spectating!!
Mark:35 – 41 says" On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”"
Jesus said “Lets cross over to the other side”. That means that no matter what – He was crossing over to the other side. This is His will. The disciples missed His will and let the circumstances determine the outcome. But Jesus stepped into the supernatural to show us how to step into the supernatural and fulfil his will.
What is God’s will?
• I have come to give you life, and life abundantly (John 10:10)
• I have overcome the world (John 16:33)
• All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me – therefore go and make disciples(Matthew 28:18-19)
• Give, and it will be given unto you pressed down, shaken together and overflowing will it be poured into your lap (Luke 6:38)
• My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)
• By the stripes of Jesus you were healed (1 Peter 2:24)
• Nothing is impossible to God (Luke 1:37)
The early church took off and had many saved and saw many miracles not because they all sat around waiting for God to move, but because “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God”
The result is people were added to the church daily, in other words because of their faith and acting on their faith, people got saved every day! We see people saved every few weeks and think its great – but the bar set in Acts is people saved every day. Why aren’t we seeing people saved every day? Because we don’t do what is necessary to get people saved every day. What are these things you ask? (I know you were going to...)
They are fellowship; in the breaking of bread; prayers; together; sold their possessions and goods; gladness; simplicity of heart; praising God.
We are not made to sit back and let things happen but we are suppose to bring about the will of God. Sure it is challenging and can mean difficulties and hardships and others not understanding – welcome to the Christian walk. But when we break through - wow what glorious times not just in heaven but here on earth.
Questions:
