The Church - a Powerhouse - Acts 4:23-31

The Church - a Powerhouse

February 6, 2011

Acts 4:23-31

Introduction

• In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.
• Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood.
• Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

• J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us.

Background

• Some awesome things had happened to the early church
• It had started with the power of the Holy Spirit falling on them at Pentecost
• This was followed by the miraculous healing of a cripple, and thousands joining the church in their mission
• This was a threat to established religion and they called Peter and John before the ecclesiastical authorities
• They ordered them to stop preaching about Jesus, and threatened them. Persecution had started.
• How did Peter and John deal with this threat? They took the matter to the church.

The church prayed - verse 24

• The church lifted their voices together in prayer to God
• Power is available when we pray together
• This does not say that our personal prayers are ineffective, James 5 tells us the effective prayer of a righteous man avails much
• But when two or more pray together there is increased effectiveness - Matt 18:18-20
• God looks not only at us as individuals but also collectively
• So when we come together we pray together

They recognized God's hand - verse 24-28

• They recognized that God was involved in this situation
• They remembered prophecies that spoke of this, and knew that God was not ignorant of the situation
• They saw that the things that were happening were things that they could expect, as Christians, because Jesus had told them it would happen
• Matt 5:11-12 Persecution will come
• We know that persecution will come on the church
• That persecution comes from different sources:
  • The world - doesn't like the light - people don't like to be shown up
  • The enemy - Satan hates the church, especially when the church is awake and alive
• As this church takes its place in the battle against the enemy, and shining a brilliant light into Susanville, persecution will come

They prayed for boldness - verse 29

• When you are threatened by the authorities, fear creeps into a corner of your heart
• Peter and John were affected by what was happening
• The church prayed for boldness, not just for Peter and John, but for all of them, for the church as a whole
• They were all in it together
• This church needs boldness
• We need the courage o0f our convictions
• Bethel church is awesome and is doing a great work in Redding
• But we want to bring that same message of hope and healing to this town
• Radical Christianity is not popular
• People do not like those who stand for something and are prepared to fight for it - Matt 11:12
• It takes boldness to be that kind of Christian
• Anyone can come to church on Sundays and Wednesdays and be a part of the club
• It takes radical Christians to carry the torch into this society

They asked for God's miraculous intervention - verse 30

• Words just don't cut it
• We can talk to people tioll we are blue in the face, but it won't change them
• I can argue till the cows come home, but I won't convince anyone
• God has to break open their hearts
• One way he does this is by giving them evidence they cannot deny - 2 Cor 12:12
• The early church prayed for God's miraculous intervention
• They asked for signs and wonders
• Signs that pointed to the reality of the risen Christ
• Wonders that showed he was alive and well, and had the power to change lives

God responded - verse 31

• After they prayed collectively, in faith, believing for an answer, God showed his hand
• They were filled afresh with the anointing of the Holy Spirit
• Instead of being fearful of the repercussions, they were filled with boldness, in preaching the Word
• Not just Peter and John, but the whole body of believers
• They went out and they told their friends, their work associates
• They stood up to the enemy, they stood firm in exercis9ing the mandate that Jesus had given them
• Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation!"
• Mark 16:20 "Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it"