94-35 - Spiritual Credibility - Acts 3

The reading this morning is taken from Acts chapter 4. In chapter 3 we have the healing of the crippled man, followed by Peter speaking to the crowd. And we start in chapter 4, verse 1. The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about 5,000. The next day the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

Annas, the high priest, was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them. By what power or what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel, it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. What are we going to do with these men, they asked.

Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name. So they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John replied, Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God, for we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. After further threats they let them go. They couldn't decide how to punish them because all the people were praising God for what had happened, for the man who was miraculously healed was over 40 years old.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of his word. Amen.

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the holy body is here. Come down, ye holy blood, and fill. In him, no sin is done.

We stand on holy ground. Be still, for the presence of the Lord. Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining over us.

He burns with holy fire. With splendor he is crowned. Our hope, son, is the sight.

Our radiant king of light. Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining over us. Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in his face.

He comes to cleanse and heal. To minister his grace. No one too hard for him.

In great thrills speak of him. Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in his face. Father, we thank you for your word.

A word of God incarnate. Wisdom from afar. We thank you for the truth that's unchanged and unchanging.

We praise you that you speak in a book which you caused to be written thousands of years ago. And yet has relevance today because of the miracle of biblical inerrancy. By your spirit take your word and apply it to our understanding.

Granting eye salve that we may see. Unstopping our ears that we may hear. And perhaps most importantly of all.

Melting our wills so they buckle. Under the superior will of God. For the saviour's sake.

Amen. If you keep your eye on the particular passage we've just so clearly heard read to us. Let me commence by telling a story which sometimes is repeated by preachers.

Because it's something that helps to maybe show the difference between the acts of the apostles. And the state of the church then. And the so-called church today.

Here is one of the great theologians of pre-reformation times. A man called Thomas Aquinas. A man whose writings in some ways are unsurpassed.

A brilliant theologian and philosopher. According to the story he's going around the Vatican in Rome. One of the cardinals showing him on display are all the sumptuous wealth.

The items of wealth that Rome has. And the cardinal makes the comment. You could hardly say today Thomas silver and gold have we none.

And Aquinas said and neither can we say take up your bed and walk. Campbell Morgan says that unless the church is healing men and women. It no longer is the church.

Unless the church is seeing cripples walk. Fractured personalities being reassembled. Lives being transformed and healed.

The church is not the church. Very often when you think of the institutionalized church. With its trappings and its liturgy.

You read the acts of the apostles by contrast. And you say what is that to do with this? Well let's come into nearer territory. When you sometimes think of the campaigns that are almost like charades.

With the razzmatazz and the choirs and lord knows what. And the claims of remarkable healings. Which are not vindicated visibly or medically.

When you think of the razzmatazz and the theater and the showbiz. You ask yourself what is this to do with that? You see it's necessary for thoughtful spiritual Christian people. To come back to the acts of the apostles.

And realize that in its ambience, in its very atmosphere. That is how the early Christian church behaved. That is the way that people worshipped.

And it's a fond comment of mine. That actually we are living in the 29th chapter of the acts of the apostles. And however far removed certain aspects of so-called Christianity today are from the acts.

This is our origin. This is our source. By this book and the attendant epistles.

Which are if you like commentaries on what happens in the acts of the apostles. We are to judge ourselves. Thus the comment that the acts is the most lyrical books.

Or one of the most lyrical books of the whole of the Bible. Do you know what's at stake today in evangelicalism? It is our credibility. Whether there is that amongst us in the 20th century.

Which is a response to a reflection of an organic connection with what happened in the acts of the apostles. It says in this 13th verse of this 4th chapter. That the early Christians were judged by those who were in no way inclined towards the faith.

That they saw and realized unschooled ordinary men. That these had been with Jesus. And to the extent that you and I are recognized as being Jesus men.

To the extent that it is obvious to others that we have been in the company of the Lord Jesus Christ. We maintain our credibility. And outside of that.

However extravagant our presentation. However moving our liturgy. We will never convince people as to the reality.

Of what we claim to believe or who we claim to be. That's the reason why you see in these two or three Sundays. When it's been my privilege to take you to the acts of the apostles.

I have been arguing this. That if you need a denomination. If you need a description of the church of God.

You have to call it the church of the upper room. If you want an understanding as to what is happening in the acts of the apostles. The success of the early church.

Then you need to take that little description which Peter used. When he says that these are the days of refreshing. Sent from the Lord.

And what I want to know more and more here at the tab. Amongst ourselves our leadership. By extension out at Maybridge and Fittleworth.

And within the body of Christ in this area indeed in this country. What one wants to know. Is the continuing by product.

Of finding ourselves as men and women of the upper room. Coming down those stone steps into the world below. And impacting it in such a fashion that people are responding.

Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In remarkable numbers. In ever increasing response.

And the only way that you can explain what is happening. Is by using the same phraseology as did the fisherman Peter. These are the days of refreshing.

So I bring you to this particular assessment. Of Peter and John. On the part of the hostile authorities of the Sanhedrin.

I remind you again as Brenda did that in the third chapter. Reference was made to the healing of a crippled man. This was no phony.

It was no staged event. The press had not been invited. Here are these early apostles and they see this wretched fellow.

40 years old and more who has been there for such a long period of time. By the temple area begging for sustenance. And the quip is made.

He asked Peter and John for alms. And they gave him legs. They prayed for him.

And astonishingly as a result he starts to walk. Displaying the physical power that ordinary people have. In being able to move around.

And when the question is put. How is it that this man is in such a condition as we now see him. The response is well it's as a result of the power of God being evidenced.

Through our prayers. Response to our intercessions. And the priests and the captain of the guard.

They're most disquieted by these things. Look at verse 1. So Peter and John are taken off to prison. This does not in any way interfere with the advancing of the ministry of the word of God.

For we read in verse 2. They were greatly disturbed. Because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John.

Verse 4. But many who heard the message believed. And the number of men grew to about five thousand. So even during Peter and John's one night in prison.

The word continues to have its effect. In the hearts and the minds of the listeners. And then the following day.

These disciples are brought out of jail. And they are put on display before the Jewish court. The Sanhedrin.

And as a result of what transpires as a question and cross question in regard to this miracle. This comment is made. In connection with Peter and John.

These men have been with Jesus. Now look. They were just ordinary men.

Like you and me. You see this is what you have to understand about the acts of the apostles. We are dealing with ordinary people.

You say you cannot be involved today in such a way as they were. And I ask you the question. Why not? Why cannot your life impact society today.

As the early church's life and testimony affected society in its day. Peter and John. Failed men.

When Jesus needed them they were not there. Oh yes. John limps back to the scene of the crucifixion.

But nonetheless at the moment of the arrest. He wasn't there. And as for Peter.

Well you know the disgraceful episode. And how Peter denied with oaths and curses. The very Lord who had been with him as his closest friend for three years.

Behold says Charles Spurgeon. When dealing with this incident over against the contrasting one of just a few weeks before. Behold what a change divine grace will work in a man.

And in how short a time. Peter who so lately followed his master afar off. And with oaths and curses.

Denied that he knew his name is now found to be side by side with a loving John. Boldly declaring that there is salvation in none other name save that of Jesus Christ. And preaching the resurrection of the dead through the sacrifice of his dying Lord.

Failed men. Transformed men. Men standing before the Sanhedrin.

And in no way blushing for the testimony that they've already given publicly. By the temple in Jerusalem. Men who are knowing spectacular results to their ministry.

120 gathered together on the day of Pentecost. By the time that day is through. The Lord has added to their number.

Those who are being saved to the tune of 3000. And by the time you get to the fourth chapter of this book. You discover that their number.

And just that of the men. Was around 5000. Transformed men.

Failed men. One time ordinary men. And you? You're ordinary? Does it surprise you to be told.

That God takes the ordinary people in this world. To achieve his purposes. The people who time and time again.

Feel that they have failed. And let the Lord down. So that at the end.

When success attends the mission of the church. When the church moves into a period of revival blessing. Seasons of refreshing.

The only explanation can be. Is that God in his grace. Has equipped these people with his spirit.

And has used them for the advance of his gospel. You see. What changed Peter and John.

Was not so much the empty tomb. Though in no way would I denigrate the message of the resurrection. But it was the upper room.

After our Lord had been raised from the dead. You still find Peter and John back in Galilee. Attending to their previous occupation of fishermen.

But our Lord appears to them. He tells them to go to Jerusalem. They wait in Jerusalem in the upper room.

And the Holy Spirit descends upon them. And from then on. They start to preach.

And they do so in a most remarkable. And penetrating fashion. And when these.

Jewish. Religious leaders. Having convened this special session of the Sanhedrin.

As they listen to Peter and John. They discover that these ordinary fishermen. Far from being overwhelmed by the occasion.

Have speech. And logic. And can present an argument.

With such great boldness. That their accusers try to find a reason for the explanation. Try to find a reason for why it is that these men have been so transformed.

And their answer is partially correct. But not completely so. They took note.

That they have been. With Jesus. Have you ever thought that this occasion.

Must psychologically have had a great impression upon. Peter and John. I mean by that.

When last did the Sanhedrin convene itself in such a special way as this? And the answer of course is when the beloved Christ was propelled. In front of them. I mean you've got the same dignitaries here.

On this occasion. As were present on that occasion. Verse 6. Annas.

Caiaphas. And then reference to some unknown men. John and Alexander.

This you see is the compliment of the Sadducees. Who from this time on. Will be more open public enemies.

Of the emerging church. Than the Pharisees ever were. During the ministry of our Lord Jesus.

You see the Sadducees are those who deny the existence of spirit. And miracle. And resurrection.

These are the people who have so cruelly dealt with our Lord. And summarily dismissed him. Now here is a rerun of history.

But it's only a few weeks ahead. Of what had happened before. Peter and John who had been so cowed.

At the very thought of the arrest of Jesus. And now they're in the same condition. And yet these are men of strength.

These are men of stability. So. Why the difference? And the answer that the legal boffins come up with is.

They've been with Jesus. And I say they were partially correct. But that's not the total answer.

I mean for three years. Yes they have been in the company of Jesus. They had benefited from the ministry of our Savior.

What is a matter with the reasoning of the Sanhedrin is this. They put it in the past tense. They think in terms of historicity.

They've got no idea of the contemporaneous situation. Now the disciples were puzzled about this. Just stay with me and you'll understand what I'm getting at.

I mean our beloved Lord before his arrest. Indeed before he'd been discomforted so much by the authorities. Was with his disciples in the upper room.

Possibly the same upper room. As they were in on the day of Pentecost. And there he had put this conundrum.

This sort of puzzle to the disciples. He said you know fellows. I'm going to go away from you.

And in one sense it is better for you that I go away. Because when I have gone away. Then I will come to you again.

And they couldn't have had a clue what he was talking about. Until the day of Pentecost came. And the Spirit of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit infills the disciples. And they realize that though they do not know the corporeal presence of our Lord. They have experienced the accuracy of what he had predicted.

They would know his company. In a day by day. Hour by hour.

Blow by blow. Way. When persecuted.

The blow by blow. He will be there. When puzzled.

And not knowing what to say. He would prompt them. You see he had said go into the whole world.

And preach the gospel. And I am with you always. Now let's go back.

To Peter and John in front of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin take knowledge that these men had been with Jesus.

It's the past tense which is right as far as it goes. But wrong if it's thought of as an explanation as to the phenomenon of these men. And the change in their personality.

They have not just been with Jesus. They are with Jesus. They know the Spirit of Jesus filling them.

Look at verse 8 of the fourth chapter. Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit. When? When he's in the upper room.

No. The upper room geographically is not important. The experience is.

Here is the Spirit of Jesus directed towards Peter. When he and his colleague are in great need. Standing in front of the Sanhedrin.

And they are given great boldness and power and authority to present. The essentials of the gospel. You see our credibility as Christians to some degree does depend upon our willingness to tell others of Jesus.

Back in my home city in Sheffield I remember many years ago now. The man who used to live in the Salvation Army hostel. The gentleman of the road was converted.

Got a job as a road sweeper. Used to come to our church and he couldn't read but he wanted to read the word of God. So he taught himself the authorized version.

Even now I can remember Albert getting up in our prayer meetings. Praying like an Old Testament prophet. With all the these and all the thous.

And all the baguettes and so on and so forth. And you ask yourself. Where did he get this speech? Not just the archaisms of an earlier generation of English speakers.

Where did he get the ability to express himself? And the answer is he was often with Jesus. And knew the spirit of the Lord Jesus resting upon him. Untrained.

Unschooled. That's what they said of Peter and John. These men haven't got the letters that we have got and yet they can express themselves in such a winsome fashion.

It's not just that they had been with Jesus historically. They were with Jesus in the contemporaneous setting. They knew his person in terms of the Holy Spirit resting upon them.

And as a result they find themselves in this condition. And their credibility is heightened even in the eyes of their accusers. You see for you and me to be used by the Holy Spirit.

We have to have that same openness as did Peter and John on the 120. They really were the first members of the church of the upper room. And we too must wait and know.

And to some degree many of us here delight in the experience of being filled with the Spirit. A fuller explanation I say of the success of these men is seen in terms of the fact that they knew the presence of Jesus day by day. But let me express it to you a little more shockingly.

Have you ever thought that Christianity is a high risk religion? It can't be for the comfortable can it? Else Jesus would not have said take up your cross and follow me. The comfort zone diminishes and the risk factor increases. A friend of mine in the States Chuck Swindle.

He has a book entitled Flying Near the Flame or Flying Closer to the Flame. By the flame he's referring to the Holy Spirit. Chuck Swindle says that for many years in his ministry he had kept his distance from the Holy Spirit.

Analyzed, theologized, dispensationalized. Anything but being drawn near to the flame. Why be so frightened? Well if you get near to a flame you might be burnt.

If you get near to the flame of the Spirit you might act out of character. Now don't you see that the comfort zone for Peter and for John was back in Galilee. I mean Peter is quite comfortable handling three thousand fish.

Hauling in the nets. Repairing the nets. He's a skilled fisherman.

But when he becomes a Christian. When he finds himself a member of the denomination of the upper room. And then he descends the steps into the darkness of Jerusalem.

Spiritually speaking as well as sometimes physically. Then he has moved from the comfort zone. Into the uncomfortable position of a man filled by the Spirit.

Propelled by the Holy Ghost. To do the sort of thing that naturally speaking he would have been incapable of. And now it's three thousand men.

That are brought in the net of the Gospel. Who need to be tutored. Now it's a man who's a cripple.

Who needs to be prayed for in the name of the Lord Jesus. And at the impulse of the Spirit. And as a result of that miracle.

And Peter's preaching. And that of John. The church continues to expand.

You see. One of the difficulties here at the tab is. We haven't learnt the lesson.

Of being prepared to forfeit the comfort zone. These early disciples did not stay in the upper room. They went into what they call the kingdom of darkness.

I believe that once they belonged there. But God had translated them. Lifted them out of the darkness.

Into his glorious light. But they were men of the upper room. Having been given the responsibility.

To go down the steps. Into the dark world. And there to proclaim the light of the glory.

Of the Gospel of Christ. So that those in darkness. Might too become members of the fellowship.

Of the upper room. Some of us. Our comfort zone.

Is the upper room. And we will not risk. Going down the steps.

Into our Jerusalem. Communicating the Gospel. Because we're afraid that the flame of the Spirit.

Might somehow depart. And we would not have the words. Nor the abilities.

To convince people of the truth of the Gospel. I've never played golf. I tried.

But I had to do so much. In terms of re-turfing the bit that I hit. Having left the ball sitting comfortably.

But I do know that golfers have the expression. Going with the flow. To go with the flow.

Going with the flow of the Spirit. Means that you take risks. It means that for example.

Even at this late stage. You would get on the telephone. And try to get one of your friends to come along.

To our evangelistic meal. On Friday night. Or Saturday night.

Or exclusively for men. Saturday morning. Have you done anything at all? Nothing? The reason is perhaps.

Because the comfort zone attracts you. And you're afraid of getting more drawn. Towards the flame.

Of the Spirit. If that is so. It's most unfortunate.

Because you see. It doesn't help your credibility. I repeat that the church is only credible.

When it can say that its moorings. Are from the acts of the apostles. When it has something of the life.

Of the acts of the apostles. Something of the desires of the men and women. Whose stories you read of.

In these pages. Someone has said. Revival is the inrush of God's Spirit.

Into a body which threatens to become a corpse. Peter filled with the Spirit. He's not going to be a corpse.

Filled with the Spirit. Acts 2. Filled with the Spirit. Acts 3. Filled with the Spirit.

Acts 4. And these men to whom he declares the name of Jesus. Look at verse 10. It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Whom you crucified. But whom God raised from the dead. That this man stands before you healed.

When he has proclaimed the name of the Lord Jesus. And linked up his preaching. With Old Testament Scripture.

To prove to these members of the Sanhedrin. That far from engaging in heresy. And leading men from God.

He is endeavoring to bring them to God. He learns. The Sanhedrin with a problem.

They don't know how to handle him. This bold preacher. Who dares to say salvation is found in no one else.

No other name under heaven. Given to men by which we must be saved. Then what name? The name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The name that Peter was denying and blaspheming. Just a few weeks ago. Incredible what's happened to this man.

Ordinary man. Untrained man. Failed man.

And yet by the power of the Spirit. He's used to make an impression upon Jerusalem. As it was then.

So it is today. It really is. So what happens? Let me try and conclude.

And bring this little address to finality. When these men. John and James.

John and Peter are released. From the Sanhedrin. Who cannot cope with them.

What do they do? Well they go back to the church. Verse 23. Peter and John went back to their own people.

And reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. What was the basis of the credibility? If you like the basis of the belief of Peter and John. Well it had to do with the absolute sovereignty of God.

Look how they address the Lord. Sovereign Lord they say. Verse 24.

Sovereign Lord. In other words. The Lord is in control of every situation.

He is the Lord of creation. You made the heaven and the earth and the sea. He is the Lord of revelation.

You spoke by the Holy Spirit. He is the Lord of history. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles.

And the people of Israel in this city. To conspire against your holy servant Jesus. Whom you anointed.

They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. You see these are men who believe that God is completely in control. Now if you believe that God is completely in control.

Then your evangelism is going to be heightened. In terms of your expectation. And your faith.

In the contribution that you make to the advance of the gospel. You see God has gone in front of you. God has used Peter and John.

So he can use you. Lord they say discern the situation. Verse 29.

Now Lord consider their threats. Then they pray discharge more boldness. Enable your servants to speak your word with great courage.

With great boldness. And then dispense more grace. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders.

Through the name of your holy servant Jesus. What a change. When John and his brother James.

Were met you remember in an earlier period of their lives. With the hardness of the Samaritans. Who would not respond to the gospel that Jesus was preaching.

They said Lord send fire down from heaven. Zap them. They prayed for vengeance.

But when they have Peter and John been in front of the Sanhedrin. Who are so hard. They don't pray for vengeance.

They pray for mercy. Lord grant that great signs and wonders may be done. Through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

And as they pray on the basis of the sovereignty of God. The spirit of the Lord fills the place. Verse 31.

And they pray after they prayed. The place they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

And spoke the word of God. Boldly. Thomas Aquinas.

You remember he said. He said that in response to being shown all the wealth of the Vatican. And the comment that we could not say silver and gold have we none.

He said neither can we say take up your bed and walk. Thomas Aquinas at the end of his life. Having denied that it was possible to have a personal relationship with God.

Suddenly knows a mighty experience of God's spirit. What I would define as the baptism of the spirit. And he stopped writing.

Never wrote another book. He said such things have been shown me the like of which. Pen can never really convey.

And from that moment on he lived as a powerful. Spirit filled. Believer.

You can do that. I can do that. By God's grace.

Our credibility is at stake you see. The proportion to which we know the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Is the proportion to which we shall be successful.

In our evangelism. The proportion to which we're prepared to forego our comfort zone. And get involved.

Is the proportion to which. We will be credible. As far as the outside world is concerned.

In terms of convincing them that our Christianity. Is the truth. To what degree are you involved.

To what degree. Do you really want to be a member of the church of the upper room. Then let me ask you to do two or three things.

Take our notes in your sheet. Read it through and pray it through the request that we make there. Will you all of.

All of you. Try this week. To tell somebody about the Lord Jesus Christ.

And to believe that the Holy Spirit will so work upon you. That he will give you the same words. As Peter and John were given.

Untrained. Unschooled. At the academic level.

Untaught. But mightily used. And their credibility.

Was high. Even on the part of those. Who were their enemies.

They recognized that these men. Had been. With.

Jesus. The. The.

The. The. The.

The. The. The.

Holy Spirit. Father for your word and for the opportunity. And the encouragement.

That it brings opportunity in terms of realizing. That the 20. 9th chapter of the.

Acts of the apostles is still being written. And we are part of that. Thank you for the stimulus.

Ordinary failed men and women and use them in your service. Do the same we pray whatever may have been for. about the address that we've heard this morning.

May this one thing live on, that us plus the Holy Spirit can make an impact in our generation for Jesus' sake. Now may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest and remain with each one of us always. Amen.

Good morning, God bless you, thank you for coming.