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February 18 - Acts 3-4:31 - "Courageous Church"

MPC 18^th February 2018.

Phil Campbell

We live in an age, don't we, where talking about our faith in public; talking about our faith at work; talking about our faith at school. Is astonishingly difficult.

Last year you might remember there was the suggestion that it was actually going to be outlawed in state schools. To evangelise; not a word you even hear much these days, but in the original Greek, that's the verb form of the noun gospel that's been our focus these last few months. Gospel literally means good announcement. And the base word for evangelism, eu-angelion, means good announcing. Telling. The good news that Jesus, the one who died for sin, is king.

And but for a last minute political change of mind, those words were nearly banned from being spoken in our schools. But look, admit it; it's all but banned anyway, isn't it? We're allowed to believe it. Privately at least. But we're not meant to say it out loud. We're not meant to say it to anyone else. Because in a multi faith multi-cultural secular Australia the underlying goal I guess is that we're really no faith at all.

Besides which I read the other day something like 51% of Roman Catholics say their confidence in the church has been diminished by the constant sexual abuse scandals. Which translates pretty much to all people everywhere, Roman Catholic or otherwise, lumping all Christians in the same basket. And asking us to just shut up.

Besides which we're apparently anti gay and so we're homophobic; and we probably didn't vote for same sex marriage so we're anti love; and so who'd want to listen to us anyway?

Let me tell you, if you want to talk about your faith in Jesus, if you want to tell someone tomorrow what a great time you had at church today... good luck. You're probably... going to get hammered. We live in an age where the good news just isn't welcome.

Which means the degree of difficulty if you're going to attempt the jump is incredibly high. And takes lots of courage. And an equal degree of wisdom and grace.

But look, I want to suggest to you today that it's actually not all that different to how it was right from the start. That it's actually not all that different to how it was for the first apostles.

Acts Chapter 3 starts with Peter and John on their way up to the temple for 3 o'clock prayers. And there's a beggar just inside the inner court-yard, a cripple since birth, and he's sitting beside this huge 67 foot high polished brass gate that the people called the beautiful gate.

Your eye is swept up by this show-piece among all the temple gates. 25 metres high, crafted and engraved from the best Corinthian brass. More beautiful even than the gold gate on the other side. this is the gate, the Beautfiul Gate -- where all the tourists take their first century selfies. Put them on first century Facebook. These huge gates. And then your eye runs down. To the crumpled, crippled beggar leaning on the pillar. Trying to attract your attention as you head into the temple.

And the beggar says, how about a few bucks? I can't walk. I was born this way. How about you buy me some dinner?

That's the scene facing Peter and John as they head into the temple. To which Peter says the words you can see in verse 6. "Silver and Gold have I none; but what I do have, I give you."

And what's he got? Here's the incredible bit. He's got good news that's better than gold. Not so much that he'll be restored. But that Jesus has been.

Peter's an apostle. Authorised by Jesus himself. And so he reaches out his hand, and takes the guy by the arm, and he says this. He says "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

And the guy... gets up and walks straight away. Feet and ankles that haven't held him for 40 years, suddenly he's up. And he's walking; and he's leaping. And he's praising God. Without even a weekly follow up at the physio.

And the people, we're told in verse 10, the crowds in the temple courts, when they recognise this is the guy who's been begging in the same spot for years, they're filled with wonder and amazement at what happened to him. And the buzz spreads, and the crowd grows in Solomon's walkway down the side of the temple. People running from everywhere.

And verse 12 here in Acts chapter 3, Peter starts to preach. To explain what's going on.

In a nutshell, here's what he says. He says, don't look at us. We didn't do it. Jesus did. Because the fact is, the Jesus you killed, is still alive and well. Doing exactly the same things he was doing before. He's alive. The one who suffered and died unjustly. He's the servant who the prophet Isaiah said would be wounded for our transgressions. And he was. And he didn't stay dead.

Take a look at his words in verse 13; it's a summary. He says to these Jews in the courtyard, "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our Fathers, he has glorified his servant Jesus." He raised him from the dead. He's ascended into heaven to rule at his right hand. We saw him go.

He says, you handed him over to be killed; you disowned him before Pilate at his trial, even though he'd decided to let him go. You disowned the holy and righteous one, and asked for a murderer to be released to you. You killed the author of life... but God... raised him from the dead.

In other words, the one who died for sin... is... king. Which is why, says Peter, it's in Jesus name that we've done this. Because he's alive and powerful. He's king over God's kingdom.

And we're his witnesses, verse 15. We're his apostles. Witnesses of his resurrection.

And so it's by faith in Jesus name; verse 16; that this has happened. It's Jesus' name. That's made him strong. That's completely healed him. As you can all see.

The authority of Jesus. At work through the apostles of Jesus. Acting in the name of Jesus.

Interesting in Acts. Everything that's happening is soaked with Old Testament promises. Isaiah 35; when God's steps in to restore his kingdom, he says you'll know it's the time... when the lame will leap like a deer.

And now here's this guy. He's doing it.

Peter says, why not join him. In celebrating the coming of the kingdom? Why not join him? In recognising the king? Why not enjoy the benefits too? Isaiah said it was going to be a time of refreshing. Why not enjoy it...

Which you'll do, verse 19... by repenting. Admitting you're wrong, and turning around. So that the refreshment that God's poured out... might be even for you.

Look. Here's the thing. And it's probably the last thing you'd expect. But sometimes the hard thing. Is the best thing for you.

Lou and I have been trying to get in the habit of evening walks. The idea is, wait for the cool of the evening. If it ever gets cool. And then head out for a four k walk.

We were debating it the other day. Will we or won't we? Just so you're clear, she was putting the yes case. And Lou said, by the end you'll actually be glad you did it. But the hardest step is the step out the front door.

To which I may have said, No. The step up from the lounge.

So much easier just to sit there. So much easier just to keep doing what you're doing.

But the point is, says Peter, with repentance once you've done it you realise it's been so good for you. Verse 19. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins might be wiped out, and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

A clean slate. So good. Refreshment from God. No more pushing against the grain. So good. If they do it, they'll find such a blessing.

Now at this point Peter's talking to a bunch of Israelites. They get first offer. Will they take it? Stay tuned. But look, let me ask you. Have you?

Because it's the starting point of the Christian life. And look, you might quietly be thinking that if you really got serious about turning to Jesus it's going to cramp your lifestyle somehow. That your life would somehow be more narrow and limited and somehow poorer for it. If you're someone on the edge, someone - and maybe only you know this in your heart - someone who's held back from that key turning point of saying, okay it's not about me any more it's about Jesus... whatever you think is the down side, the reality is it's opening the door to God's blessing and to times of refreshment.

And the guy leaping around the temple on his new legs is just a picture of that.

Verse 26 is making the same point. Take a look. "When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you - you Israelites - not to limit you. But actually to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

And look, countless Christians through the last two and a bit thousand years will tell you exactly the same.

Of the refreshment. Of the new sense of purpose. That comes from living for the glory of Jesus and not just serving yourself.

I read a fascinating article the other day; they've analysed millions of words written by people on social media and online and all over the place; and they scan for words that indicate happiness and joy; or unhappiness and frustration. And they then cross correlated that with the amount of personal pronouns. The amount those same people are talking about me and I and my.

And guess what. They've found that the more self interested a person is; the less likely they'll be happy. The more it's about me me me and serving my needs... the less likely I'll be satisfied.

Look, that's just a general principle of the way we're wired. a deep truth about humanity. But Peter says to these guys that when you turn from your wicked ways; when instead of disowning the holy and righteous author of life you actually own him; that's... where you'll find God's blessing.

I wonder if you're here this morning and you haven't got to this point maybe you could try that?

But again the question in the passage is, what are these guys, Peter's fellow Israelites, going to do.

And you can see it in chapter 4 there are two responses. And here's the first one. Persecution.

The priests, and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees; the upper class religious faction; all the guys who had had it in for Jesus and were part of his crucifixion three or four months ago; this is getting personal. They're the ones Peter's been talking about. And they've been listening. And now they make their move.

And they move in and they arrest Peter and John, and throw them in jail.

That's the first response. Here's the second.

Because, on the other hand, chapter 4 verse 4;. Peter's told the crowd they need to repent. And some a persuaded!

I reckon it's an astonishing number. Remember at the start? Chapter 1. They could only scratch together 120 disciples in an upper room. In Acts 2 after Peter's Pentecost speech they add three thousand more. And now here. Acts 4 verse 4.

Many who heard the message believed - and the number just of men grew to about five thousand. With I assume their families as well.

This is a mega church. Already. With, as we'll see next week, all the problems that come from that. But when it comes to the call to repent and enjoy God's blessing again... this is fantastic.

Peter and John might be sitting in a jail cell. But the mission of Jesus is alive and well. In spite of opposition.

But the next morning it gets worse. How are you feeling, if you're John? How are you feeling, if you're Peter? Up before exactly the same ruling council that handed Jesus over to be crucified a couple of months before.

You reckon speaking in the name of Jesus is tough today. Well it's not that it started out being any easier. Remember last time? Peter was a quivering mess in the courtyard outside; lying to a slave girl, denying he even knew Jesus.

So look at him now.

Cross examination.

Verse 7. "By what power... or by what name... did you do this?" Who do you represent?

Which is exactly the right question, isn't it? And puts Peter and John right in the firing line.

Remember back in chapter 1, the risen Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit was going to give them a whole new boldness. To speak in his name.

I'm not sure what you're looking for from the Holy Spirit. There's a lot of talk; kind of comes in waves. That if you've really got the Spirit you'll speak in tongues. That if you've really got the Spirit, John Wimber in the 80s said you'd have supernatural laughing. If you've really got the Spirit according to Gloria Copeland in the last couple of weeks in the States, you don't need to get the flu injection.

Well, according to Jesus, the promise is if you've got the Spirit you'll have courage. To speak in his name. You'll have the words to say. When you need them most. So watch what happens.

Verse 8 says Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit; and he says to them, know this. You're asking me in whose name? If you want to know the answer, here it is. Verse 10. "It's by the name of Jesus of Nazareth - whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you completely healed."

And he quotes to these bible experts from Psalm 118. "He's the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone." The most important stone of all.

Don't you hate it when that happens?

In January 1962 a little band called the Beatles tried out for a contract with Decca records in London. You might have heard of them. But back then Dick Rowe from Decca chose a band called Brian Poole and the Tremeloes instead. With the famous quote that "The Beatles have no future in show business."

That's exactly what the Jewish ruling council did with Jesus. They treated him like rubbish. They killed him. But God has raised him. And in God's astonishingly good intention, his innocent death has paid the price for their guilt. And opened the way for their blessing.

And so in verse 12, Peter says "Salvation is found in no one else - for there's no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

And now they've got no idea what to do. They can't deny the miracle. Everyone saw it. But they still so desperately want to silence this Jesus. So verse 18, they give Peter and John a final warning. They say, "Never speak or teach in his name. Ever again."

And so of course history tells us that Peter and John become closet Christians because it's now so awkward to talk about Jesus; and they decide they'll just be nice to people and run a social welfare agency. And shut up. And that'll do.

Well, of course history doesn't go like that, does it? The exact opposite. Peter and John say, what would you do? Should we obey you? Or should we obey God? Verse 20. "For we can't help talking about what we've seen and heard." How can we possibly shut up about the risen Jesus?

And the Sanhedrin lets them go anyway. Because all the people are praising God for what's happened to this guy who was crippled for 40 years. And is now jumping and dancing round the temple courts.

This is a real question, isn't it? As the heat turns up, how are we going to respond? Just going to fade into the shadows? Join the invisible Christians?

Just a quick look at what happens next with Peter and John. They head back to the other Christians and they tell them what's happened. And so they pray. It's a great prayer; you can read it in verse 24 to 30. They're absolutely unsurprised there's opposition. Because Psalm 2 always said there's a clash of kingdoms going on.

So look what they ask for as they pray. Verse 29. Now Lord... consider their threats... and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Help us. To speak boldly.

Will you make that your prayer?

I don't know if you've ever taken a close look at our Vision Statement. It's printed on the back page of the bulletin. We worked through it in detail back in December. But undergirding it, there's a key statement: "We will pray for our mission, demonstrating our dependence on God's grace, mercy and provision."

We're on exactly the same mission as the first Christians were; and up against the same opposition.

And what's their prayer? Look at it again. enable your servants to speak your word... with great boldness. A prayer for their mission.

Even as it gets harder.

Is that your prayer in the face of opposition? All they're asking for is the courage to keep speaking in the name of Jesus. And for the apostles like Peter and John to keep on doing their awesome apostolic miracles in the name of Jesus. The name they've been banned from using.

After they pray, says verse 31, there's a rumbling. And whole place rattles and shakes. Prayer answered. Verse 31 says, "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God boldly."

See, I don't know about you, but when there's opposition I just want to pull back into my shell. It's obvious there's a clash of kingdoms going on; a collision of world-views.

But I've noticed along the way, if you pray for the boldness that comes from God's Spirit, it's a prayer God loves to answer. And you'll find that even ordinary people like us - who are not even apostles - can actually speak the gospel boldly when God puts the opportunity in front of you. Which he actually will.

You'll find people will ask you questions. Because they see something different in the way you're living. You've got to learn to open up your private spaces. Have neighbours in your home. Which is the place heart stuff gets talked about. You've gotta learn to listen. And ask other people questions about their core beliefs and values. And then be ready to be clear and gracious when they ask you the same. You've gotta be clear about your story. In a way that's winsome. And honest. And real. And you've gotta be clear about Jesus. In a way that's actually interesting.

And we've gotta keep praying for boldness and for opportunities. To keep on doing it. Where ever it is you're living life.

Will you pray that?

You know, I heard about my friend Ray Galea's church in Sydney the other day. Last year 96 people came to faith in Jesus. Simply because the Christians at church kept at it. Evangelising. Proclaiming his name. Bold, no matter the cost. Because in the end they know, just like we do... that salvation is found in no one else - and there's no other name under heaven by which we must be saved - than the name of Jesus.