A Church That Marches On

I won preacher put in. He said, even though the church was growing rapidly and expanding at an exponential rate, the church here in Acts is in its very embryonic stages. It is forming, it is developing growing taking shape and we must recall the days in which they were living, they were not kicked back in the recliner texting their friends. I'll see you at church tomorrow. We'd invite you to church tomorrow. They weren't witnessing on Facebook Messenger. They weren't joining the church online for service. Know they were living it out in person, risking their very lives, risking their lives, putting in literal, sweat, and work in tears and blood. That came with serving the lord Christ at that time still does. Sometimes today is this is the work it took on their behalf to formulate to build This Magnificent Body of Christ. We now know and have in love today in our series. As we read, I would remind you to remember where the church came from what we saw last week. And then he's 5 verses that these five versus they primarily serve to us as a transition from one event to the next event. They also served us they're going to give us some of these great characteristics. We've been seeing their discipline, the church's grit tenacity fortitude, and today at Luke is going to give us a few more insights into what it takes to be a church that marches or if you would would you stand with me, please. As we read from the word of God, the words are going to be on the screen. Maybe they will remain there. Maybe they will not. I'm thankful for the the tech team doing. They're they're very best doing a great job to keep things up and running or going to be in the book of Acts chapter 5 verse 12 through 16 spray as we prepare to re God, would you just prepare our hearts? Prepare our minds to receive your word. Father, just follow the leading. The guiding of your Holy Spirit. God would you teach us? Lead us guide us grow us. Draw us into you away from ourselves. And into the light of the glory of Christ, I was so thankful for you. Your instruction your word. Father, we praise you this morning for it. Would you receive the glory through all? That is said and done. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. It's in the book of Acts chapter 5 verse 12. Luke says, now, at the hands of the Apostles, many signs and wonders were happening among the people and they were all with one Accord and saw them in sport ago, none of the rest are just, so she ate with them. However, and the people were holding them in high esteem and more than ever Believers in the Lord added to their number multitude of men and women to such an extent, that they even carry the sick out into the streets. Laid them on Cox and Matt. So that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also, the multitude from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together. Bringing people who were sick or Afflicted with unclean spirits and they were all being killed. You can be seated this morning. And we praise God for his word.

Today I accept 5 or 12 through 16, a church that marches on, it was in the mid-1800s, in a young lady by the name of Julia. Ward Howe after visiting some Union troops near Washington DC. She Wrote lyrics to what is now a very famous him in the United States and for any of you music, I noted this at the service, I might as well tell you two are really in the music in my notes. I said, she composed the lyrics. So I thought you might find that funny. The rest of you are like me in your life. I don't get it. Yeah, that's fine. I didn't either.

A very famous him. A very famous young as him has been references. Being the United States is s national anthem. It's been noted as being the more singable of the to. The song has been a staple in the women's suffrage movement, two World Wars. The Vietnam War Doctor, Martin Luther King Junior, famously quoted this him and his speech, how long after a 54 mile March from Selma to Montgomery Alabama. This ham is referenced as being beloved by President Abraham Lincoln by Winston, Churchill. It was sung at the Washington National Cathedral at st. Paul's Cathedral during the services Memorial services for the victims of the 9/11 attacks and we sung this very him this morning, hear the word, listen, listen to the words of the hymn. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling out the Vintage where The Grapes of Wrath are stored. He has loosed, the Fateful lightning of his terrible, Swift sword, his truth is marching on. I have seen him in the watch, fires of 100 circling camps. They have builded him an altar in the evening to do some dance. I can read his righteous sentence by the gym and flaring lamps. His day is marching on. He has sounded forth the trumpet that she'll never call Retreat is something out the hearts of man. Before his judgment-seat, all be swift, my soul to answer him, the jubilant my feet, our God is marching on Of course sounds like this Glory Glory, Hallelujah, Glory Glory. Hallelujah. Glory Glory, hallelujah. Our god is marching on. Listen to the very last stanza as its own comes to a close. In the beauty of the lilies. Christ was born across the sea with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me. As he died to make men, holy, let us die to make men free while our God is marching on what an appropriate him to sing on Veterans, the weekend of Veterans Day, that him is entitled The Battle, Hymn of the Republic. Currently my prayer is that the Republic would come back to? Remember, does resounding words, but I also cannot help But think of the early church, the church in the book of Acts. A very similar desire. Similar commitment. Similar resolve in the hearts and minds of the people, the apostles, the church throughout the Book of Acts. Surely they too would claim. Our God is marching on, his day, is marching on. His truth is marching on and his church is marching. I'm going to look at five key takeaways from these five versus today revealed to us in this text characteristics, five short, but important items worth noting from the text. That I'm a charge that Marches On number one, that is the purity of the church. The purity of the church. Let's start with answering the question. What does it mean to be pure Pure or Purity by definition means free from contamination.

Cleanliness wholesomeness that which is unpolluted unpainted. Unstained undiluted undefiled to be pure, pure means to be decent worthy Noble blameless, Guiltless spotless in the list, goes on. That is God's desire for both his children and his church, as evidenced in the scriptures. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:8, blessed are the pure in heart. Paul told young Timothy set, an example for all believers and faith in love. And in Purity, Colossians chapter 3, Galatians chapter 5 we are worn. Sleeve from all impurities. Paul in the book of 2nd Corinthians says it is his desire to present the church to the Lord Jesus Christ as pure. And his words as pure as a virgin. I want you to notice in the text today how Luke starts in verse 12 now Such a simple and a small word now. His use of the word. Now is very similar to the use of the word therefore in the scriptures. What he's indicating here is a moving on. I'm moving on word from where they have been a reference to what they have just walked through. He staying there for now because we have walked through this, not before not prior to, but in the present now because we have experienced this at the hands of the Apostles great things are being done. What was that event? That they walk through? It was a purifying of the church cleansing last weekend. First one through 11 of chapter 5 we saw it. We witness this tough circumstance. As the church experiences, the death of ananias and Sapphira to believers who had set it in their hearts, to lie, to God, to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to the church and to continue in an attitude of hypocrisy. Because of that they were met with instantaneous judgement. God was purifying his church setting the record straight making sure well and clear that people would know. My church will be different. They're the ones who are called out their set apart and they will be holy. And they will be pure and not in the strength of our own doing not in the strength of their own doing. But in the strength that God provides and of ourselves, we are not wholly and we are not pure. We know that the Bible says there are none who do good. There are none who are righteous, not one, but praise God. It's possible for us to be holy and pure through faith and he who is Holy and pure for he has made no distinction between the Jews and the Greek cleansing and purifying Our Hearts by faith xt9 1st, John 1:7, in verse 9, the blood of Jesus, his son cleanses us from all unrighteousness and if we confess our sins, he is faithful. And just to forgive us, those sins. To purify us, cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God has made it clear. He wants expects a pure Church. The world needs a pure church. He has made clear. The only way that is possible is by life in his son, that is the purity of the church number to day. We see the miraculous, the miraculous a church that Marches On is a church in which the miraculous takes place. Those things that which can only be described as saying, surely, surely God is here, now, at the hands of the Apostles, many signs and wonders were happening among the people There are many teachings many lines of thought concerning Miracles concerning the miraculous to the point where some of you or stiffened up in your seats. While the preachers going to talk about miracles, wonder what he's going to say, wonder what he's going to say now many lines of thinking many lines of understanding of miracles in the Bible the Miracles. And today, I once read an article of a man who wrote to address these Miracles and he said this, he said, I believe there are fewer miracles in the Bible than you think there are more miracles today. Then you know, I don't necessarily agree wholly with his statement. What I agree with is the ladder. There are absolutely more miracles happening today, then we know or realize there's a danger when reading the Bible and interpreting these miracles in the danger. The most prominent danger before us today, is to read these Miracles and to assume that they should happen in the same way. In the same type in the same frequency as they did in the scriptures or what's the danger with that. The danger is When do they don't happen in the same way? In the same type in the same frequency? Has Scott left his people as churches, or something wrong with my face. It's not a good or correct way to view the miracle of the Bible Bibles. She's me the Miracles that happened during the days of Jesus and the apostles that are not recorded in the scriptures. And there are also many Church Gatherings during those days and which there were no Miracles that are not recorded. Throughout the scripture, this is how we can understand Miracles. God, had a way, has a way today of vindicating, the path to follow his Divine teaching the commencing of a new era with Miracles. He did so with Moses, as he was establishing his, his children in the land, he did. So with Elijah, and Elisha calling his people back under him through the voice of the prophets, and he did so through his Christ. And through the Apostle, that's he ushered in the New Covenant, we know the 12 apostles had the gift of Miracles of signs and wonders and God used greatly to vindicate, his message that they were proclaiming verse 15 and 16, you can't argue around it. You cannot argue around verse 15 and 16 the sick or Madewell the lame wore healed demons were made to free. Miracles absolutely happened. They absolutely happen. God is, in fact, still doing many miracles of the same caliber of the same nature of the same frequency in many places around the world or people who have never heard the gospel live. There are many missionaries, many churches around the world, Asia Iraq Afghanistan. The Philippines China where God is vindicating, his Divine message with Miracles and many people are surrendering in face to a miracle-working god through his son Jesus Christ. God still works his miracles here in the US as well. Seemingly and less frequency though, but don't miss the fine print, don't miss the Miracles in the fine print. Don't look over there so quick to look over Miracle, just because they don't look like a withered hand being made. Well, Going to put some verses on the screen for U-verse 12, the latter half. First 13, the ladder have 14, 16, the beginning. But actually Oliver 16 is a miracle, these are all miracles in our texts today. And they were all with one Accord in Solomon's Portico. The unity, the boldness and bravery in audacity of these men to go back to the same place for claim. The same message that got them. Arrested, just a short time ago, that is a miracle. However, the people were holding them in high esteem. The King James version says, the people were magnifying them. There were celebrating praising them. That's a miracle considering the message. They preached was quite striking to the heart of man to the Jews of the day. Still 2-day first 14 more than ever Believers in the Lord, were added to their number multitude of men and women, salvation is a miracle. When one, when one experience of Salvation, let alone multitude of men and women. In a multitude from cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem or coming together. Bringing people why to hear the claims of Christ. Through the mouth pieces of the Apostles. You take a note, you can note for 16, this is the first reference in the book of Acts to do outside of Jerusalem, hearing the gospel. This is the beginning of Judea Samaria and to the ends of the Earth win the church. Standing on the word of God in all purity. And boldness in the Holy Spirit, proclaims the word of God God is vindicating, them working in them so that people from surrounding areas come to see what is happening. It is a miracle. And the latter half of her 16, many all were healed of their sicknesses of their unclean spirit. That is a miracle, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to the place where the miraculous takes place and I believe it is a normal occasion. Number three, number three, and a text today. A church that March is on is a church. That is Unified the church. That is unify, not. The hands of the Apostles me signs and wonders were happening among the people. They were all together with one Accord and Solomon sport ago. But none of the rest are just, so she ate with them. However, the people were holding them in high esteem. Excuse me. That is the eighth time and 5 chapters that we have seen reference, the unity of the church, they were all together with one Accord.

There are however, two prominent ways to understand or to teach these verses. One prominent. Why is that the entirety of the church was together and Solomon for to go in unity? In verse 13, those who dared not to associate with them where the unbelieving Jews of the day. Why did they, why did they not there to associate two reasons, both stemming from Fear. Number one, was a fear of the god of the Christians served, We cannot forget. We cannot forget, where we just came from now. Moving on. They were fearful of the god, that Christians served because the judgment on ananias and Sapphira were met with. number to add a fear of association with the church because of The threats of the religious Council of the day, the arrests. The orders not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. The Christ. That is one prominent way, the other prominent way, the way in which I find myself aligning with in this text is that while in the past and the other seven instances, the use of the word, in the book of Acts, it is reference to the entirety of the church. In this instance, I do not believe that is though. I do not believe that. It's that look again at verse 12. And I have two hands of the, who the apostles? Signs and wonders were happening among the people and they the apostles. The apostles were all with one Accord in Solomon's for to go.

Based on the apostles. They being in Solomon's. Poor to go with one Accord and verse 13. None of the rest. I believe that means the church I believe that means the rest of the church. Here's how I I believe that also moving into the following what we're going to look at next weekend and chapter 5, where it's the 12 apostles, who are arrested. I believe it was the 12 apostles who were standing unified installment sport ago, And you'll see it on the screen. This is exactly what I wrote in my notes. This is what I believe this is telling us. The entirety of the church based on the Judgment of ananias and Sapphira were terrified. They were absolutely terrified. The 12 apostles The Twelve Apostles were Unified. and God, use their faith, their boldness, their maturity, their understanding, their willingness Just a little fly. The church, the church was without a doubt. In a trial. N 8th St. I believe.

Ananias and Sapphira the same believer at instantaneous judgment. And the rest of the church, the masses of the church was terrified apostles who walked with Christ were unified and God use their Unity to solidify the rest of the church moving forward.

Unity of the church that Unity of the leaders in the church. Peter said, in the conclusion of his letter to his church. Finally, all of you have Unity David in. Psalm 133 says behold how good and pleasant it is when Brothers dwell in unity it's like Precious oil on the head. Precious oil on the beard of Aaron running down the collar of his robes. It's like to do if Herman which falls on the mountains of Zion for there and unity. The Lord has commanded the blessing of life forever, more Satan, tried to dismantle and divide the church from the outside he failed. And when he tried to dismantle the church from the inside their division,

he failed the church stands in unity with the Lord Jesus Christ and Immunity with one another through the Holy Spirit, the Church of the miraculous a church that is Unified for sleep today at church that multiplies. The early church, the church of the New Testament. The churches of today are to be Great Commission. Church has Matthew 28, go. Therefore make disciples, baptized in the name of the father of the son, of the Holy Spirit, teach them all. I have commanded you and I will be with you always even unto the end of the age. That's the goal. That's the mission, the vision plan and the purpose? Yes, We Gather yes, we Study Fellowship. Yes, yes,

We must be fulfilling the Great Commission of the utmost importance in the lives of the New Testament Church and action must be in our lives as well. I want you to consider this, I believe it was John Piper who said this He said there is one thing and one thing alone, the church cannot do better in heaven than they have done on Earth. And that is evangelism. One thing, the church can't do better in heaven and they do on Earth evangelism. Why our worship will be sweeter, our communion closer, our love stronger. Appraise better. But we cannot absolutely cannot evangelize. And haven't.

That is why there's an urgency to time because it's running out. And it is not cliche to say, when the coffin lid closes, so does the Fate, it's the truth time is working towards the end. The Church Must Be about evangelism. We know Christ is with us and we know he said the Gates of Hell will not stop us. Verse 14 more than ever underlined that church more than ever Believers in the Lord added to their number multitude of men and women. The church in Jerusalem started with 12 on the Mount of Olives 120 in the upper room Peter preached his sermon at Pentecost and three thousand Souls believe 3120. He preached his first sermon, the Sultan's songs for to go and 5,000 men surrender to the Lord that very day. Dr. Luke was not afraid to say at one time, and one moment, 5000 men surrendered to the Lord. Now he's saying more than ever. How many, how many could it have been? A great plague in our churches today is that, the Great Commission has become the great omission. Dr. Luke says, more than ever Believers in the Lord added to their number when the church Met adversity. God used it.

God used it to advance them. And number here, we are standing Luke's has more than ever are added to the Lord. And we stand here and say, Lord, Do It Again. Or do it again. A church that Marches On must be a multiplying Church. Lastly, today, number 5 at church. That Marches On is a church. Must be a church engaged in Ministry. Engage the ministry. They were carrying the second to the streets, laying them on Cox and Matt. So that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them, also, the multitude from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem, we're coming together. Bringing people, we were sick or Afflicted with unclean, spirits and day, were all being healed. The minister. Is to attend to or to meet the needs of others. Luke 5:33 32, says this in the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciple saying, why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and Sinners? And Jesus said, those who are, well, have no need for a physician. For those who are sick, I have not come to call the righteous, but the Sinners to repentance Matthew 2028. The son of man has come to serve, And so to his church to serve others. the church is United around the caption and call that the problems in your life, no matter how big or small Christ is the answer to them all I told you I like rap music, Chris to send them. It's alright. A little round.

Original.

The church is United around the captioning called that every problem in your life, no matter how big or small Jesus Christ, is the answer to them all. And his church is here to help the care how sad it is when the church turns their back. On those coming to seek help on those who might not fit a certain image or category or class. Many of you may be of heard this story is a great leader. In the Civil Rights Movement, his name was Mahatma Gandhi. Born in India raised as a Hindu.

Very interested in the claims of Christianity, the claims of Jesus Christ. He himself sought to become a Christian. I sought out of church now, as he was going up the steps to make entrance into the church. He was met by a man who said you are not welcome here.

Are you are not the right class of Indian and you are not white. You are not welcome here. he will go on live his life to never again for Sue the deeper claims of Christ, and what it is to become a Christian and then he spoke these haunting haunted words, I would be a Christian. Were it not for the Christian?

I would be a Christian were not for the Christian. The church is a place where the needs of people are knowledged. They are welcomed. And they are met many members in our, in our church. We've seen floating around on Facebook. This past week, we discussed it out our our business meeting or sharing a post on Facebook. And it said this, the guy smoking a cigarette. At the door of the church, you might be 4 days. Clean from heroin barely holding himself together, running to the only place, he knows he can find help.

The girl with tattoos might be a month home from prison trying to give her life to Jesus and have a fresh start.

The mother with screaming. Baby might be losing her mind trying to be a single mom. Come to the only place she can find a moment of peace.

Please that said don't ever forget, the church is a hospital.

At the church turns its back on those who are seeking help in a cruel and dark world, where in the world, would you expect them to go?

Ministry people from all over, recognizing the Church of the Lord. Jesus Christ is a place where they will be welcomed and loved and find Hope and find feeling.

Place where they find help for physical needs, but a place more so than anything. They find what? They don't even know they're looking for. They have an innate and natural something they don't understand longing to meet their savior. Writer of Ecclesiastes. Said, eternity has been set in the heart of every man. I don't even know.

Something deep within is why people come to the church looking for help they're not looking. For help with a visible or their financial at the symptom, the not looking for help with their marriage, with their kids. That is a symptom, it looking for help with the greatest problem, one person can ever have. The problem that's in that separated them from the Creator. From their creator. What a blessing, it is humbling. An honoring when God allows our paths to be crossed with another weary traveler. Looking for the road of redemption of healing. Maybe they need encouragement. Maybe they need a pick-me-up. Maybe they need a spiritual partner along the way. Maybe they need to be directed to the way of the pilgrim. Brought from the way of Destruction. To the path that will lead to the celestial City.

Would you stand with me this morning?

Maybe that is you this morning, maybe. Maybe you're on that path, and you are beaten down discouraged, feeling broken, feeling worthless, and you need encouragement. You need support, you need help. You need a helping hand along the way. Christian, you won't find it in any other place than in the Lord, Jesus Christ. And in his church, Full of brothers and sisters wanting to encourage you along the way wanting to see you run your race with endurance and finish. Well many many people, many professing Christians reject his church. Why I will never know. Maybe Pride, may be resentment, lack of forgiveness.

But the church is here, maybe today, you're on the wrong Highway. And maybe you need to be brought from the path of Destruction to the path of eternal life. Maybe it's time to let go of the things. You have been holding onto to lay them at the foot of the cross.

To experience the grace of the Lord Jesus, and allow him to carry you on, no matter where you are, who you are, what you have done that Grace and forgiveness is available this morning. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us. Confession and repentance is a freeing. Experience in just a minute. The music is going to begin Wherever You Are. Wherever you are. There's Grace to be found at the foot of the cross, the altar, the meeting place with God. Sure you can meet God. Sure, he meets you right where you are. But there is something special about an intentional coming to the altar to meet with him. And his spirit in prayer. If you need to surrender to Christ for the first time to begin the walk on that glorious Highway, you can do that this morning. If you need encouragement along the way a helping hand grab, somebody bring them down here and say, would you please pray with me? At the music begins wherever you are. I pray that you would come.

Can you hear the phone?

Trade in your chainsaw.

All the way.

How are you?

No condom.

Arizona.

What do BC to this morning? As we have taken from this example in the scriptures of a church that Marches On and Purity with miraculous Works Unity multiplying and engaged in the work of ministry. When I pray here, just remember we have a brother and a sister who are Nancy and I are in Rodger Mitchell Rodger as of now, he is having open heart surgery on Tuesday. We're going to pray for them. I'm going to pray for the food out of Fellowship meal and then we have a request from those in the church serving outside. And in the hallways, those of you who have children and children's church, would you please dismiss first? I would the rest of you who do not have children and children's church. Please remain in sanctuary for just a few minutes. I will, I will pray. I will step down a please just just talk to your neighbor and joy. Time of fellowship. Before we head down there, there are almost 40 children in children's church this morning. Praise God for that. And yeah, praise God for that and it's going to be chaos. All right. It's going to be chaos, trying to get them to get the kids with their parents, in the fellowship meal and all that. So please just if you do not have a child and children's, please just from an x-ray for a minute. If you have a child, please, please make your way down there, as soon as possible to to get your child, right? So I'm going to pray for Rodger and Nancy are going to pray for the meal. And and we just pray and thank God for his grace, for his word, for his wisdom and his the teaching of his word this morning, I thought we just come to you today. If I we just ask that you would help us humble our hearts, for you guy to, to come to text of scripture to your word and just ask for the grace to understand. Ask for your spirit to guide us into all truth and wisdom and knowledge. And would we allow the word of God in the spirit of God to be the lens that we view the world through? Not the other way around. We just so thankful for your grace and mercy and the way that you are patient with us. We come to this day, asking for that Grace, that Mercy patients, understanding in the lives of our brother and sister Rodger. Nancy God, I just pray, I pray for Rodger as he is about to embark on the surgery. Got I pray for patience for understanding. And and wisdom God, I pray for peace and I pray for trust and faith in you in the Sovereign god of the universe, the loving God, who created him. Do Sikhs and everyday. And every moment to draw him closer unto you and we pray, that would happen through this surgery, God's you to continue to draw him. Allow him to seek your face. Your glory. Behold Your Glory as he walks. His journey that we pray for Miss Nancy. As she to endorse this guy. Would you give her grace and understanding patients in peace? God what she cast her anxieties upon you for? I'm sure there are many

Trust in your Sovereign to guiding hand of the gracious and merciful Lord that you are God. I pray for the rest of the family. I pray that all involved in this would be drawn into you to see to be revealed two of your glory and mercy. Pray for the doctors guiding hand. I pray that they would look to you. I pray that they would trust you. I pray for the atmosphere of the surgery, surgery room. But everyone there would say, surely our God is here. if I'll just pray that they would be a witness, In a place that can be quite dark damping. Sorrowful. But they bring light and joy, and peace. Tell me we are so thankful for Rodger Nancy. Was it mean to many of us? What they mean to you just asked me what surround them make your presence. More than normal known unto him and around them, through them, and in them. Many come to see your glory your light through this situation in their lives. If I we praise you, we trust you for the results. I pray for the food this day. I pray for the hands and thank you for the heads of the parotid. But many, who are to partake. Would you give us our Great Fellowship graceful loving joyful? Communing fellowshipping with Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Or just give us your grace this day, your joy this day. In the presence of your spirit. And your children in Jesus name, I pray. Amen. Thank you very much. You have a fantastic day fellowshipping with us. Please parents of children's church Go-Go.