WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:13.300 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:20.500 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at Christchurcheastbay.org. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:29.980 Good morning. I'm Melissa Arsuniega and I'm part of the El Cerrito, Kensington, Berkeley, and Berkeley. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.159 I'm a Richmond community group and I'm a deacon. 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:42.820 Today's scripture reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 5, verse 41 through chapter 6, verse 7, as printed in your liturgy. 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:46.960 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:55.320 The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:05.719 Day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:14.539 In those days, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews 00:01:14.540 --> 00:01:19.300 because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:23.860 So the twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, 00:01:24.320 --> 00:01:31.260 It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables. 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:39.600 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:47.939 We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word. 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:51.459 This proposal pleased the whole group. 00:01:52.019 --> 00:01:55.979 They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:04.939 Also, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:10.979 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:13.199 So the Word of God spread. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:21.219 The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.379 This is the Word of the Lord. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.159 Thanks be to God. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:30.719 We have been exploring one of the most exciting books of the Bible. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:39.599 And I'm not even sure if Sir Christopher Nolan could do justice to this book, The Acts of the Apostles. 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:44.960 And we've been asking ourselves the question, what is authentic Christianity? 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:50.400 What is real, original, historic, genuine Christianity? 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:55.439 We've also been asking ourselves the question, what is a living church? 00:02:55.580 --> 00:02:57.099 What's a healthy church? 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:02.099 What are the marks of a church where the living God is at work? 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:10.620 And we've been taking that even a step further to examine ourselves and to ask, am I like this? 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:12.520 And are we like this? 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:16.980 Do we conform to this pattern that they've set for us? 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:19.200 And is this true of us? 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:22.039 Is this the sort of thing that we're doing? 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:28.159 And today we have this short passage, but it's actually much deeper than it looks on the surface. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:30.259 So let's just dive right in. 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:32.679 And I want to talk about three things. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:39.280 I want to talk about rejoicing in the name, clarifying the priorities, and calling to obedience. 00:03:40.019 --> 00:03:44.379 Rejoicing in the name, clarifying the priorities, and calling to obedience. 00:03:45.799 --> 00:03:48.759 Think about rejoicing in the name for a minute. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:57.819 Because if you've been with us, you've noted this repeated theme in the first five chapters of this book. 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:02.599 And the theme is about the power of the name of Jesus. 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:10.379 So I'll just go back to Acts chapter 2, where it says, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:19.259 And then later in that chapter, it says, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:28.019 The next chapter, in chapter 3, it says, silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:29.120 Walk. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:37.620 And then in that same chapter, by faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:51.840 And then you may remember in Acts chapter 4, Peter said, salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:56.379 And on that basis, the church gathered together to pray. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:58.379 And they prayed this way at the end of chapter 4. 00:04:58.479 --> 00:05:07.259 They said, Lord, stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant, Jesus. 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:14.179 So why is it important to draw attention to these aspects of this book? 00:05:14.719 --> 00:05:18.639 It's simply this, that to be a Christian is to delight in the name. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:22.159 That's a good definition of what a Christian is. 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:24.139 Delighting in the name of Jesus. 00:05:24.599 --> 00:05:26.219 They were not ashamed of this name. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:33.680 They were not hoping that people in their office or in their school would never find out that they're associated with this name. 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.899 They were proud to believe in Jesus. 00:05:36.039 --> 00:05:38.039 They were proud to belong to Jesus. 00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:42.300 The name of Jesus was everything to them. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:43.319 They rejoiced in it. 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:51.480 They exalted in it because in this name, they had come to experience the power of God for salvation. 00:05:52.899 --> 00:05:59.219 And now I want to draw our attention to this very strange and wonderful verse. 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:02.199 The first verse in our text, verse 41. 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:03.500 It says, 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:13.819 That's really strange. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:18.220 We didn't print the verse right before that. 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:27.360 But in verse 40, the apostles were flogged by the authorities because they had been told not to speak in the name of Jesus. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:38.460 And when Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, he says in 2 Corinthians 12, he gives a list of all the sufferings that he's undergone because of the name of Jesus. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.280 And in that list of sufferings, he says, 00:06:40.340 --> 00:06:42.439 I've been flogged five times. 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:45.160 So this was not a one-time occurrence. 00:06:45.840 --> 00:06:47.420 This seemed to happen quite a bit. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:50.660 And what would happen is you'd be stripped to the waist. 00:06:50.660 --> 00:06:52.800 You'd be tied to a post. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:54.620 And then you'd be flogged. 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:57.120 You'd be beaten with a leather strap. 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:00.020 And they would do this 39 times. 00:07:00.140 --> 00:07:01.560 39 lashes. 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:07.300 Because 40 was seen as the outer limit of cruelty and degradation. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:12.500 And they knew that you could take 39 lashes and still live. 00:07:13.340 --> 00:07:19.440 And so how did the apostles respond to this first painful beating? 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:22.899 It says that they're rejoicing. 00:07:24.719 --> 00:07:25.939 Why are they rejoicing? 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:33.420 Because it says they were counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:38.779 They were honored to be dishonored for the name of Jesus. 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:45.079 They were proud to bear shame for the name of Jesus. 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:51.319 So if you want to know what real Christianity, authentic Christianity is, this is it right here. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:55.759 They said God has considered us worthy. 00:07:55.919 --> 00:07:57.479 He's honored us. 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:06.759 And why did they consider it the greatest honor that had ever come to them to be counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus? 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:11.620 And for many of them to go on and eventually lay down their life and to die for this name? 00:08:11.659 --> 00:08:13.500 Well, there are two main reasons. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.759 First of all, because of who Jesus is. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.000 And secondly, because of what Jesus has done. 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:20.439 His person and his work. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:27.420 They rejoiced to be associated with this high and wonderful person named Jesus. 00:08:28.159 --> 00:08:29.039 And who is he? 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:34.180 Well, Hebrews chapter 1 says that he is the son. 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.800 S-O-N. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:40.320 Jesus is the son and he's the radiance of God's glory. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.860 The exact representation of his being. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.740 Through whom God made the universe. 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:48.200 And who sustains all things by his powerful word. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.840 Who God appointed heir of all things. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:57.460 That's the name that these apostles refused to stop speaking about. 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:00.700 And the one that they were ready to die for. 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:02.980 He's the eternal Lord of glory. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.620 He's the creator of the universe. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:08.120 And in Colossians chapter 2, the apostle Paul says, 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:13.360 In Christ, all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:21.360 The absolute, transcendent, utter fullness of the living God dwells in Jesus. 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.500 And so they rejoiced in Jesus. 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:29.680 And they were ready to suffer for him and be dishonored for him because of who he is. 00:09:30.560 --> 00:09:33.360 But it wasn't just his person and who he is. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:36.899 It was also his work and what he had done for them. 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:43.759 And I want you to listen to the way that these two apostles who were flogged for Jesus and eventually martyred for Jesus put it. 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:45.879 Peter says in 1 Peter 2, he says, 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:55.340 He, Jesus, he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. 00:09:55.779 --> 00:09:58.419 By his wounds we have been healed. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:10:01.979 Paul writes to Titus and he says, 00:10:01.979 --> 00:10:15.599 Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:19.519 Paul writes to the Corinthians and he says, 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:28.200 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us in order that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:39.900 So not only did Jesus have God's judgment for our sins put on him, but also Jesus put his own perfect righteousness on us. 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:50.940 And because of Jesus, God treats you as if you had never sinned and as if you had never ever been a self-centered sinner. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:58.880 It's as if you had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for you. 00:11:00.140 --> 00:11:05.460 And all you need to do is accept this as a gift of God with a believing heart. 00:11:07.060 --> 00:11:11.240 Does it make sense why they were rejoicing in the name of Jesus? 00:11:12.540 --> 00:11:14.520 Paul goes on in Ephesians 2, he says, 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:32.799 This is why they were willing to suffer. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.620 This is why they were willing to be dishonored and to die for the name. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:47.820 Because the resurrected and reigning Lord of the universe had not only bought pardon for us and blotted out our sins, but he's made us new creatures. 00:11:49.060 --> 00:11:50.779 He's made us children of God. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:54.620 He's put us in the royal family of our heavenly father. 00:11:55.340 --> 00:12:00.799 And he's made us a joint heir with himself of all the glory that's yet to come. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:10.299 And he has sent his spirit into you so that the very spirit that was in him is now in you. 00:12:10.359 --> 00:12:14.740 And this is why the apostles rejoiced in him and would not be silent. 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:21.639 It says in verse 42 that day after day, after this flogging day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:27.319 they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:37.040 If you had just been beaten for speaking about the name of Jesus, would you go out immediately and start speaking again in the name of Jesus? 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:44.940 They took risks in ways that it's hard for us to imagine. 00:12:45.900 --> 00:12:53.560 But they took risks of being insulted and being mistreated and worse for Jesus. 00:12:53.559 --> 00:13:02.339 Because the effect of such suffering puts Christians in the same category as their Lord. 00:13:03.239 --> 00:13:05.879 And Jesus told us this in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5. 00:13:05.979 --> 00:13:13.479 He says, blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:17.079 Jesus says, rejoice, which is exactly what they're doing. 00:13:17.319 --> 00:13:21.139 Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:26.539 You know, in the Bay Area, you're probably not going to get flogged. 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:35.439 Probably the worst that could happen is someone could laugh at you or, you know, make a comment about you. 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:42.480 But if that happens, if somebody says you're crazy because of the name of Jesus, 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:47.539 they're actually paying you a great compliment because that's what they said about Jesus. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:51.179 You're following in his steps. 00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:53.579 You're participating in his sufferings. 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:58.279 And the reason those first Christians were willing to take the kind of risks that they took 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:01.120 is because they were no longer afraid of anything. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.759 They weren't afraid of death. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:06.120 Because Jesus had conquered death. 00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:09.459 He had transformed and transfigured death. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:18.920 And we, too, can rejoice like they rejoice because all of our greatest enemies have been conquered. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.480 Sin and death. 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.960 Hell and the devil. 00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:29.000 And Jesus, who conquered these things, is coming to set up his glorious kingdom. 00:14:29.180 --> 00:14:32.980 And when he does, he's going to glorify you to be glorious like him. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:37.539 And you are going to share in his rule and in his reign. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.860 Do you believe that? 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:44.840 Do you rejoice in this name? 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.379 Has he become everything to you? 00:14:48.180 --> 00:14:50.800 Does he control your view of life? 00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:54.960 Does he control your view of the things that are happening to you? 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:59.639 And is he someone that you want to talk to others about? 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:04.539 Is he of greater worth to you than your own comfort and your own safety? 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:08.960 Because the first Christians, the early church, certainly said, yes, he is. 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:20.159 How is it that we should be so blessed by God to have this honor of being dishonored for the name of Jesus? 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:25.639 That is real, authentic, original Christianity. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:32.960 So I want to talk not only about rejoicing in the name, but I also want to talk about clarifying the priorities. 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:35.299 Clarifying the priorities. 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:42.199 You see, after Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven, after Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit, 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:46.120 the number of Christians began to grow dramatically. 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:51.279 And we're told in chapter 6, verse 1, that the number of the disciples was increasing. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:55.379 And that meant increasing needs. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:16:00.399 The growth of people and the growth of needs led to neglect. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.559 And the neglect of the church led to discontentment. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.399 And that's what we read about in verse 1. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:14.639 In those days when the number of disciples were increasing, the Hellenistic Jews, that is the Hellenistic Jewish Christians among them, 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:22.799 complained against the Hebraic Jewish Christians because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:30.000 Now we should just say here that in Israel, care for widows, whether you were a young widow or an old widow, 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:34.840 care for widows was meant to happen in your family, your extended family. 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:42.060 And if they weren't able to care for you, then the broader community of faith would care for your needs. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:45.000 Moses says in Deuteronomy 27, 00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:50.660 Cursed be anyone who prevents justice due to a foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:58.580 And after Moses, all the prophets, Israel's prophets, their shorthand of saying doing justice for widows, 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:01.780 that was shorthand for covenant faithfulness to God. 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:05.359 You showed your faithfulness to God by doing justice to widows. 00:17:05.899 --> 00:17:09.539 And that kind of care and concern marked the New Testament church. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:13.460 James, in his letter, chapter 1, he says, 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:20.940 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:26.200 And you see, the problem was that when a Jewish widow converted to become a Christian, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:31.120 she was baptized into a new family, which meant that she lost her old family, 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:35.600 which meant she was on her own and she was poor and she needed help. 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:43.259 And so the church, in the face of floggings, said, 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:49.740 Well, let's set up a welfare system for our own people, for the poor in our congregation. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:57.559 And you can imagine a food market and a soup kitchen and a clothes closet and a financial fund. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:02.879 And that was alleviating the poverty that existed within the life of the church. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:13.720 But a problem arose that these native-born Hebrew-speaking insiders were being well-served by that welfare system. 00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:21.180 And these immigrant Hellenistic Greek-speaking outsiders were being overlooked and being neglected. 00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:23.960 And so what did the church do? 00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:28.360 What were her basic principles and priorities? 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:31.520 And what mattered most in her mission? 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:37.720 Well, it says in verse 2 that the 12 gathered together all the disciples and they said, 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:42.799 It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables. 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:48.539 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom, 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:51.279 and we will turn this responsibility over to them, 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:55.700 and we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word. 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:58.519 And this proposal pleased the whole group. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:04.299 What the church said is that care for people in the church, 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:08.200 especially care for our most vulnerable and our most poor, 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:12.299 is so important that we're going to start a new ministry team. 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:19.139 But they said there's something even more important that comes before all else. 00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:21.859 And what is the primary task of the church? 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:26.659 They say it's prayer and the ministry of the Word of God. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:30.099 They say, yes, let's divide our labor. 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.899 Yes, let's delegate our work. 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:38.619 Yes, let's widen the circle so that our ministry of mercy can be improved. 00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:41.159 But they said it would not be right in the eyes of God. 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:51.660 It would not please God if a secondary ministry like mercy or anything else meant neglecting our primary ministry of the Word of God. 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.660 Why is that? 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:57.019 Because the gospel is not merely about human concerns. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.800 The gospel is about the glory of God. 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:04.440 The gospel is not merely about bodies and bread. 00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:07.440 The gospel is about souls and salvation. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:13.399 The gospel is not merely about temporal and material needs of today. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:17.460 It's about the eternal and spiritual needs that are going to go on forever. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:24.700 And so what they said is that the greatest need that the world has is to hear this message of the gospel. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:33.400 They said, who is going to talk to people about the best and most glorious news that's ever come to the world? 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:36.180 Who's going to talk to people about Almighty God? 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:42.019 Who's going to talk to people about God's self-revelation in His Word? 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:52.180 Who's going to talk to people about our souls and the need that our souls have to be reconciled to God and be forgiven of our sins? 00:20:52.180 --> 00:21:02.360 Who's going to talk to people about their need to prepare themselves to die and to go through death and out into eternity with God? 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:09.580 Who's going to talk to people about the Messiah, about the Savior that God has sent? 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:18.400 And I think this is, when you look at the history of the church, this is probably one of the most decisive moments in the whole history of the church. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:27.200 Because if the church had made the ministry of the word and of the gospel secondary behind some other priority, 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:31.320 would we have gotten the rest of the Acts of the Apostles? 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:37.980 Would the gospel have gone to Africa like it does in Acts chapter 8? 00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:45.200 Would the gospel have gone to Europe as it begins to do in Acts chapter 10 and Acts chapter 16? 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.700 Would the gospel go on to India? 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:53.420 Would, over the next 300 years, half of the Roman Empire have been converted by this gospel? 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.319 Well, who knows? 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.080 But they made this choice. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.500 And why did they make this choice? 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:06.660 Well, because Jesus, resurrected from the dead, told them to. 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:10.160 He said in Acts chapter 1, verse 8, 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:16.080 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:22.080 The church has been entrusted with a ministry of bearing witness about Jesus. 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:25.000 That's our primary task. 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.460 Jesus said in Luke 24, he told them, 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:47.160 You see, that is why the word of the gospel must be put forward at all costs, 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:53.240 because it's the only hope for every person in the whole world, in every single nation. 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:57.420 And you remember what Peter said in Acts chapter 4, he said, 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:06.539 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:09.640 Jesus didn't say, I'm a light of the world. 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.259 He said, I'm the light of the world. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:15.920 He said, no one comes to the Father except through me. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:19.279 He's the only Son that God has. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:23.220 He's the only mediator between God and humankind, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:27.539 and is the only Savior and Redeemer that the world has. 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:35.019 And that's why the message and the proclamation of that message has to be put before all else. 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.420 Whether you're preaching in a pulpit, 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:40.579 whether you're teaching the gospel to kids or to youth, 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:42.879 whether you're leading a Bible study, 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:46.779 whether you're initiating spiritual conversations with your co-workers, 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:50.000 whether you're inviting your friends to an alpha group, 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:54.720 what we're saying in these things is that the most important thing in the world 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.920 is your relationship to God 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:00.619 and being reconciled to God. 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:07.799 The church is always in danger of putting secondary things before the primary thing. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:11.339 Putting human needs before our need for God. 00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:13.920 Putting the body before the soul. 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.759 Putting time before eternity. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:19.359 But the right order is God before humans, 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:21.259 the soul before the body, 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:23.519 and eternity before time. 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:27.240 Yes, let's do congregational care. 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:30.420 Yes, let's do mercy ministry. 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:35.240 Yes, let's relieve poverty for widows and orphans. 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:37.220 Yes, let's do loaves and fishes. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:39.940 Yes, let's nurse the sick and start hospitals. 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:42.660 Yes, let's educate children and start schools. 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:48.019 Yes, let's use our skills to advocate for justice in the legal system. 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:50.700 Christians have always valued that. 00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:52.920 They've always said that's massively important. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:55.200 We've always been really good at those things. 00:24:55.580 --> 00:25:00.540 But the gospel proclamation has the first place 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:02.980 because it was the first activity of the church. 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:07.360 And that is what the church has always come back to 00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:10.559 in periods of reformation and revival. 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:14.500 We have the one and only message 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:18.140 that the world needs to hear for its salvation. 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:21.059 It's just as simple as John 3, 16. 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:25.480 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:28.379 that whoever believes in him shall not perish 00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:30.539 but have eternal life. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:34.179 And then we don't usually read these verses that come next, 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:37.220 but it says whoever believes in him is not condemned, 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:40.139 but whoever does not believe stands condemned already 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:44.039 because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only son. 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:48.059 And that is why they said we must give ourselves first and foremost 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:51.079 to this ministry of God's word because it alone 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:57.059 is the only real and lasting solution to the world's problems. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:03.279 But notice in verse 4 there's something that comes 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:07.940 even before this ministry of the word of God and the gospel. 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:10.039 And what is that? 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.659 It's prayer. 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.240 And why is that? 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:19.440 Well, the gospel cannot be proclaimed properly 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:21.740 and it cannot be proclaimed effectively 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:24.099 unless it's done in an atmosphere, 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:28.720 in an environment of dependent prayer 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.160 for the presence and the power of God. 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:35.740 They emphasize prayer because they realize 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:38.180 their own inadequacy. 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:43.320 The church realized her own impotence 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:48.120 and her absolute need for the power of God 00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:49.660 to work in the midst of their weakness. 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.900 Why does Acts chapter 2 tell us 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:54.580 that they devoted themselves to prayer? 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:57.600 Why does Acts chapter 4 tell us 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.440 that when they prayed, 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.160 the place where they were gathered was shaken 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.340 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:04.180 and spoke the word of God boldly? 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:08.340 It's because they knew it to be an absolute imperative 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:11.220 and an utter necessity to go to God 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:13.600 and get fresh supplies of His Spirit 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:15.920 and fresh supplies of His power. 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.940 And I wonder if we know that. 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:22.320 They said we have to go and pray to God 00:27:22.320 --> 00:27:25.100 that He would open up His word to our minds 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:27.480 and enlighten our understanding of His word 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.500 so that we can go and make that word plain 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.580 and clear to other people. 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:36.059 We have to pray for God to anoint His word 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.539 so that people hearing that word 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:41.119 who are currently darkened in their understanding 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.399 and blinded in their hearts 00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:45.039 and alienated from God 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:47.819 can hear God's word 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:49.740 and know that they have a soul 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:53.500 and know that their soul is going out into eternity 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.039 and know that they're going to stand 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:57.359 before the judgment of God 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:59.419 and unless God opens their eyes to see that, 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.399 they'll never see it. 00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:02.500 And so the church prayed, 00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.399 Sovereign Lord, 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:06.879 let them see the mighty salvation 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.159 You provided in Jesus 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:13.500 and plant Your divine nature in them. 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:15.419 Put the life of God in their souls. 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.419 Make them new creatures. 00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:21.019 Cause them to be born again from above 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.199 by the Holy Spirit. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:23.139 That was their prayer. 00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:25.419 And it says, 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.519 Because they prayed that way, 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.599 the word of God spread 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:30.359 and the number of disciples increased rapidly. 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:34.500 Friends, do you share God's priorities? 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:40.939 Is it obvious that the ministry of God's word 00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:45.259 is the most important thing in your life? 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:50.680 Do you believe that God's word will go nowhere 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:52.680 and it will do nothing without prayer? 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:56.660 And do you pray for God's anointing 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:58.759 and His blessing on the ministry 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:00.839 of the word of His gospel? 00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:05.439 So they were rejoicing in the name. 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:08.539 They were clarifying their priorities. 00:29:09.699 --> 00:29:11.740 And finally, they were calling to obedience. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.759 And I'll make this quick. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:15.059 But you notice what happens 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:17.559 when these Christians were willing 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:19.619 to sacrifice some of their comfort 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:22.740 and they were willing to keep the main thing 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.599 the main thing. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:25.799 It says in verse 7 that 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.900 the word of God spread, 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:29.099 the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:31.000 and a large number of priests 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:33.200 became obedient to the faith. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:36.500 Don't have time to explain all that that means, 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:40.900 but basically a revolutionary change happens 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:42.119 when you become a Christian. 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:46.099 And that change is described as obedience to the faith. 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.500 And this, I think, is fascinating 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:51.920 because it's what the Apostle Paul is talking about 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.779 when he writes to the church in Rome. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.579 And he says in Romans chapter 1, 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:58.000 I was sent to the nations to call them 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:00.759 to the obedience of faith for Jesus' sake. 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:04.680 And in the heart of that letter, in Romans 6, he says, 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:08.019 Thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:10.779 you have come to obey from your heart 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:13.299 the gospel that has now claimed your allegiance. 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:16.940 And then as a capstone at the very last chapter 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.700 of his letter in Romans 16, 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.279 Paul says the gospel of Jesus is meant 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:24.980 to bring all nations to the obedience of faith. 00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:29.060 Gosh, that seems important, the obedience of faith. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.380 What does that mean? 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:34.560 Well, everyone is obedient to something. 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.080 And someone. 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:40.600 If you're not a Christian, you obey yourself. 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:44.500 You say, I choose for myself how I'm going to live. 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:46.539 No one can impose this on me. 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:48.080 I'm the master of my fate. 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:49.900 I'm the captain of my soul. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.140 I'm my own Lord. 00:30:52.060 --> 00:30:55.180 But the question is, are you as free 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:57.519 and are you as sovereign as you think you are? 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:05.019 In reality, we obey all kind of beliefs and values 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:07.139 that are imposed upon us by our culture. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:10.980 In reality, we're obeying spiritual powers and forces 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.619 that we simply do not understand, 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:14.680 that want us to think that we're free. 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:18.539 In reality, Paul says that we're slaves of sin, 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:22.720 that we obey our own desires and passions and appetites. 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:25.019 We obey our work and our success. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:28.259 And we obey money and sex and power. 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:32.039 And we obey our algorithms and our addictions. 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:35.859 And we obey our need for approval and our ambitions. 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:38.359 We are obedient little creatures. 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:44.219 And what does it mean then to be obedient to the faith? 00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:48.199 It simply means a transfer of obedience 00:31:48.199 --> 00:31:50.979 from this to that. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:55.099 It doesn't mean that you start obeying something or someone. 00:31:55.219 --> 00:31:57.740 It means you are obeying something or someone 00:31:57.740 --> 00:32:01.359 and you transfer your obedience from this to that. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:05.740 A new power comes in from outside of you 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.679 when you become a Christian. 00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.079 It's the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:11.559 And he changes the object of your obedience. 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:15.119 He changes you so that you now have a new Lord 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:16.299 and a new master. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.500 And you say, 00:32:17.699 --> 00:32:22.459 I'm no longer going to put my trust in me and obey me. 00:32:23.439 --> 00:32:26.339 I'm going to put my trust in one who's proven himself 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:29.139 to be way more trustworthy than I am. 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.879 And when we experience this supernatural change 00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:36.439 in our mind, in our heart, in our will, 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:40.320 there's a fundamental restructuring of our trust. 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:46.460 And we say, ah, now I can see that the path to freedom 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:49.080 lies not in obeying myself. 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:53.240 The path to freedom lies in surrendering myself 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:55.839 to another who's greater than myself. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:33:00.939 The path to liberation lies in submitting myself to Jesus 00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:04.299 and being obedient to the faith about him, 00:33:04.399 --> 00:33:06.339 being obedient to the word about him, 00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:09.119 being obedient to the gospel about Jesus. 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:13.339 And this revolutionary transfer of obedience is not, 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.319 I obey, therefore I'm accepted. 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:21.419 But rather it's, I'm accepted and therefore I obey. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.919 And to go back to where we started, 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:27.859 the first Christians, they looked at the person of Jesus 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:29.139 and who he is. 00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:32.859 And they looked at the work of Jesus and what he's done. 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:38.779 And they said, how could I not obey the one who loved me 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:41.799 and gave himself for me? 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:47.299 Friends, have you come to obey the gospel from your heart? 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:52.259 Has Jesus claimed your deepest trust and allegiance? 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:57.960 And are you living a life of obedience no longer to yourself, 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:04.420 but to the faith, the faith in our Lord Jesus, 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:10.579 crucified, risen, reigning, and returning? 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:14.139 Let's think about that as we come to this table. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:17.699 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.