Sermon Tone Analysis

*Helping Others Walk*

*June 4, 2000        Acts 3:1-26*

* *

*Introduction:*

 

So far in Acts we have been given assurance that we can do what Jesus left for us to do;

we have learned how to make decisions Jesus left for us to make;

we have come to better understand the nature of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us and what he does for us;

and we have heard the Spirit's message about the necessity of salvation.

Last week we heard from Dan Hough (who did a great job in his first time preaching to us) about the nature of the body of Christ and its characteristics.

In verse 43 of that passage it says that everyone was filled with awe, and many signs and wonders were done by the apostles.

Christ is building his church.

There were 3,000 believers added to the 120 disciples at the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the resulting preaching of Peter.

Then the Bible says in 2:47 of last week's passage that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Now in today's passage in Acts 3:1-26 we will see another significant increase in the number of believers.

In fact, 5,000 more are added, and it is again through the power of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of Peter.

Although the action of the Spirit this time is different than the wind and tongues of fire we saw at first.

This time the attention of the people is gained not by the action of the Spirit upon the disciples but by the action of the Spirit through the disciples.

The Spirit is now fully indwelling them for the building of Christ's church.

But as we look at this morning's passage, let us ask ourselves a question.

Certainly we too want to have a part in building Christ's church, but where do we start?

There is so much to do, and how do we sort it all out?

We are so often overwhelmed and even confused.

Have you ever been so aware of the immensity of a particular task before you that you are immobilized?

It helps to compartmentalize these things – to break them up into smaller tasks – in order to accomplish them.

But which compartment do we take first?

As I observe young mothers (my own daughter, Selena, case in point) I am amazed at the immensity and overwhelming nature of the task before them.

Children can be so demanding as to drive you to tears in frustration not knowing what to do.

Even the proverbial camel's back can be broken by that last straw.

Grandparents too can feel the pinch (we just spent an extended weekend with our two oldest grandchildren – and don't forget Mikey).

Young fathers working long hours or two jobs can feel shut down emotionally, physically, and mentally by the prospect of sorting out another day's demands.

Children themselves can become overwhelmed at the packed schedules of school and extracurricular activities that continue non-stop toward cultural and parental expectations (examples: little league, swim lessons, camp, etc.).

Those of us who may be in their years of declining energy and health can become overwhelmed even by the prospect of another day of living life or another trip to the grocery store or doctor's office.

But we aren't dead yet, and life is still to be lived, and Christ's kingdom is not complete until he comes, and we still want to have a part in the commission.

But if you are like me I get so much Christian mail every day it is staggering to consider the depth and legitimacy of the worldwide need in building the kingdom of Christ, the true church.

There are requests for funding and help for ministry to the cities, for persecuted countries, for disaster relief, for missionaries, for hospitals, for radio broadcasts, for discipleship ministries, for equipping pastors, for Bible translation, for defense of morality and family values, for godly political process, for AIDS relief, for rescue missions, for literature distribution, for war relief, for orphans, for Christian education, for church planting, for children's ministries, etc.

Almost all these requests are legitimate and deserve to be supported.

And you cannot drive many places, especially downtown, that you don't run across several homeless people begging for money.

You tell yourself you just can't help them all.

But just walking the streets causes you to want to stop and tell the gospel to any number of people if you thought they would listen or could figure out who would listen.

So what do we do?

I think today's passage gives us some answers.

Let's look at the model of this second wave of success in building Christ's church as Peter and John go up to the temple for prayer.

The task that Jesus left them would tend to overwhelm any of us.

So how do we sort it out and respond to the need of helping others into the kingdom of our God and Christ?

*The Big Question: *

How must we respond as Christians to those in need around us?

 

*I.

Cycle One*

 

*          A.

Narrative v. 1*

 

There were three times a day for prayer for the faithful Jew.

Those in Jerusalem went to the temple to pray.

Times of prayer were at 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and sunset.

Jesus himself taught persistent prayer.

/Luke 18:1 ¶ Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up./

In light of the task that Jesus left the apostles, what do you suppose they might have been going to pray for?

They were in the midst of his beginning kingdom program.

People were coming to faith every day.

Besides their faithful and burning desire to worship God, and praising him for this marvelous increase in the numbers of believers, Peter and John were probably praying for more converts and for how to minister and teach those that had come to faith in Christ through them.

They were living out their faith and their God-given task.

They were going about the daily task (and joy) of ministry.

They were continuously devoting their lives to God and to those he had given them.

How often do we stop during our daily routine to pray for the ministry that comes with our faith in Christ?

Because the hearts of Peter and John were open to God, their hearts were open to those ministry opportunities God might reveal to them.

When we put God first in our lives, we will be open to seeing and responding to what God wants us to do with our lives.

If we have lapses in our devotion we will not notice the opportunities for ministry he gives us, or perhaps not take those opportunities even if we notice them.

We will often put other things first – most likely ourselves.

We make great error when we get too busy to serve God even when we are busy serving him – or so we think that we are serving him.

God's priority is building the kingdom of Christ.

This must also be our first priority.

Indeed, he has said that it must be our first priority.

Remember that the disciples were to outwait everything else until the H.S. came upon them to equip them for their commission.

And then they were to go in the power of the H.S. to be his witnesses.

*          B.

Implication*

 

As Christians we must respond to the needs of those around us by putting devotion to God first in our lives.

*          C.

Illustration*

 

God always amazes me by how he hammers home the lessons of the messages he gives me to preach.

(Recount the situation of Wednesday at Pastor's Conference when I noticed two black men in need that I did not take initiative toward.)

(This was a time when I thought I was supposed to be ministered to, and I planned to be exempt from overtly ministering to others for a few days.

But God had something he wanted to show me.

He didn't give me these opportunities when I wasn't busy and had time for them.)

This was a test and a lesson.

God's job is to teach me that I might teach you.

The lesson here is that in ministry – for all of us – there are no real breaks regarding kingdom priorities.

When we put God first, we will put others first – always.

And we need not fear that God will give us whatever rest we need – in his time, not ours.

In fact, our time is God's time anyway.

He owns my life and yours.

*          D.

Application*

 

Many ministry opportunities only have one opportunity.

It is possible to get too busy doing everything except what matters most.

If my devotion to God is what it should be at any given moment, I will notice and respond to what he gives me to do.

We must remember our first love.

*II.

Cycle Two*

 

*          A.

Narrative vv.

2-5*

 

So what we find with Peter and John's devotion to God in going to the temple to pray is a ministry opportunity right in front of them that they not only take notice of, but they respond to it because their hearts are prepared for it.