The Word of God Preached in the Church Acts 5:27-32

(Once again I lean heavily on the teaching of Mark Driskoll at the Resurgence conference of Feb. 08)

Last week, we made the case for the Gospel – the Word of God which reveals God’s plan for enemies of God to be reconciled to the Holy God of all creation – was to be preached.

In Acts chapter 2, God the Holy Spirit came to those who were waiting in obedience to Jesus’ command to stay in Jerusalem and wait for power from “on high” before they preached. Those who obeyed Jesus received more from God and more of God, that more being the Holy Ghost. They received freedom to preach the testimony of the magnificence of God [Philips translation]… and the church was born.

In Acts 2 the church is described: “They continued steadfastly = in readiness – they met by common consent in the Temple and in homes – Acts 2:42,46

They shared their possessions according to need, their meals, their joy.

They praised God – Acts 2:42,44,47

Therefore they were respected – Acts2:43

THE CHURCH CHARACTERIZED BY PREACHING

Ø Everyone preached. Acts 2:4 proclaimed the message laleo (everyday speech) V.11 the wonderful works of God laleo

Ø Peter preached. V.14 apophthengomai = to speak high things where they can be plainly/understandably… AND 3,000 people accepted the good news and were baptized as a testimony.V.41

ACTS 3 – PETER PREACHES ON THE PORCH OF THE TEMPLE Peter and John went to pray but they wound up preaching, since a crowd had gathered. The message; 3:19 “Repent!” and about 5,000 came to Jesus as savior.

ACTS 4 – PETER PREACHES TO THE RELIGIOUS COURT since they were taken into custody by the court. The message of the sermon to the religious leaders:

Ø 1)Salvation is only in Jesus V.12

Ø 2)Those of us who know about Jesus, cannot but speak V.20

Upon their release, the prayer of the church is for boldness to keep preaching. V.29

ACTS 5 – APOSTLES arrested and FREED FROM PRISON by an angel and they – PREACHED V.20

Ø Arrested twice V.18,and V.27, beaten V.40 and did not cease preaching V.42

ACTS 6 - CHURCH ADMINISTRATION became OVERWHELMING BUT

APOSTLES WILL NOT CEASE PREACHING V.2

Ø The conviction to preach comes from God (V.7 “the word of God continued to grow”). Whereas guilt that draws away from taking care of the first order of business (preaching v.2 and praying v.4) comes from people. V.1 There were people who were worried about distribution of goods. But the apostles decided their best investment of time was in prayer and ministry of the word. Other men could take care of administration.

ACTS 7 – Stephen Preaches - the whole counsel of God beginning in Genesis and continuing through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirits’ ministry of conviction.

ACTS 8 – Paul Persecutes and Preachers are Scattered … Phillip Preaches… Peter and John Preach in Samaria VV.14-25 -

ACTS 9 – JESUS PREACHES TO SAUL VV.4-6 Saul is born again and

…PAUL STARTS PREACHING V.20 … BOLDLY V.28

ACTS 10 – Peter @Cornelius’ …

ACTS 11 – Antioch; Jews and non-Jews are preached to.

ACTS 13 – team preaching – Paul and Barnabas sent as missionaries

ACTS 13- END OF ACTS Paul and Barnabas, Silas, Apollos, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila continue spreading the gospel, preaching, and training preachers.

A part of preaching is warning the church of danger from within as well as from without.

ACTS 20:17-ff - Paul warns the preachers in Ephesus:

ONE JOB OF PREACHING in the church – Acts 20:28 WARN OF WOLVES

Ø 1)Rising from their own number … within the churches

Ø 2)Wolves can do much damage among naive flock

Ø 3)Therefore warning about teachers and teachings V.30

ACTS 28:30-31 Paul keeps on PREACHING – the last we hear of Paul

Preachers raise up preachers. One of Paul’s trainees was Timothy.

PAUL’s command TO TIMOTHY, the preacher, - 1^ST AND 2^ND TIMOTHY

Timothy is to:

Ø Preach and make preachers 2Timothy 2

Ø Honor preacher/teachers who do well and who preach at God’s command 1Timothy 5

o honored and respected in churches.

PREACHING IS CENTERED IN THE CHURCH … either meeting with the church or supported by the church. There was accountability for what was preached. ie.Acts18:24 Apollos

If someone is going to teach about Jesus, they need to know and love Jesus. If someone has no use for Jesus’ bride, they don’t love Jesus. A teacher who does not participate in a church is not teaching Jesus.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A CHURCH?

Ø Align with Bible description

Jesus is recorded having used the word “church” (ekklesia) only twice.

o 1)Church Universal Matthew 16:18-19

o 2)Church Local Matthew 18:17, 1Corinthians 5:4-5, 6:1-6

The church, made up of born again followers of Jesus Christ make up the visible church

and the invisible church

o Church Visible - How God sees and knows the church. God knows who are really His.

o Church Invisible – How we see the church. We cannot know all who love Jesus.

A Christian church is made up of:

Ø 1)God’s people Gathered - Ekklesia = The word came to mean church.

o Meetings and services matter. [Do two guys drinking beer talking about religion equal a church? Or some guys out fishing or on a golf course? Some people quote Matt.18:20 “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This is in reference to church discipline, not defining a church]

o John Calvin said to be a church: Gospel preached, sacraments (Lord’s Supper and Baptism) faithfully administered

To maintain proper teaching/preaching and faithful service there must be:

Ø 2)God’s people Governed – Shepherds (1Peter5) –called out by God for the care, protection, discipline, guidance of the church under the Chief Shepherd.

o There must be a head of the church – Jesus – Ephesians 5:23; Col. 1:18; Isaiah 6:1,ff

o Must be qualified leaders – Male elders – Female leaders in appropriate places (deacons) Romans 16 Phebe deaconess – Amplified, Philips, Wuest

o Bible rightly preached (Word heard)

o Ordinances rightly observed – baptism in response to new birth, communion in response to repentance (Word seen)

o Church discipline rightly enacted (Word enacted) \no homosexuals, no Buddhists, no pagans in leadership

o Call to repentance by authority from the Head Matt.28:18

Would you want all leaders to follow the example of your leaders? Preaching will be impotent w/o the rest of what constitutes a real church.

Ø 3)God’s people Going. Gospel must be proclaimed with Authority, Clarity, Passion, and Power as we go. Matthew 28:19-20 So that Jesus will be glorified in the church. Eph. 3:21

¿Is an online church a church? Is an event a church? Are two guys in a bar or a bass boat a church? Is there: Preaching? Ordinances? Discipline? Assembling?

Another reason the church needs to gather together - to fortify one another.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Do not waste what is left of the time God has given you on earth to glorify Him! The chief end of man is to glorify God.

Join the bride of Jesus, the church, as they gather, govern, grow, and go out to preach the good news that the enemy of God can become a son of God through trusting Jesus who sacrificed himself on the cross to pay the penalty for your rebellion.

.

The Word of God Preached

The Word of God Preached Genesis – Revelation March 20, 2008

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2a and applied it to Himself; “¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, " ¹⁹"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. "

Jesus was anointed and sent to preach- the gospel, deliverance and recovery, and the acceptable year of the Lord.

The Father was the first preacher. He has anointed and sent and will anoint and send other preachers. But He and His are not the only preachers.

The Bible uses several words that are translated “preach, preaching, preached.” In the Old Testament, the words all mean to call out, as in to pronounce or announce. In the New Testament, preach can mean to evangelize, to herald divine truth, to talk/ preach/ speak, or divine expression itself (logos).

Let us look at the Word of God preached.

(Much of the outline of this sermon is from a National Resurgence/Act 29 Network Conference I attended at Marshill Church in Seattle February 2008.)

GOD, THE FIRST PREACHER When God's word goes forth, something gets accomplished. In Genesis 1, 10 times the Bible says “God said”.

o By the spoken word of God: God is revealed

o Order is created

o Life is created

o Things are separated/divided

o “Good” / “very good” is pronounced

o God’s authority is displayed

GOD IS NOT THE ONLY PREACHER Satan preaches to our parents

Ø Genesis 3 Satan preaches to our parents

o Undermines God’s word

o Undermines God’s authority

o Brings together what should have been separated

The question is not; “Will there be preaching?” but “What will be preached?”

THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON Genesis 3:15

Ø Jesus is coming; conflict; wounded; victory

THE PROPHETS PREACH

Ø Repentance and the coming of Jesus

JOHN THE BAPTIZER PREACHED

Ø Repent, Jesus is at hand

After Jesus’ baptism and another sermon by God, the Father (Matthew 3:16-17 ” ¹⁶ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”) there followed

PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS Matthew 4

Ø Satan’s sermon – Life w/o God; Kingdom w/o a cross; Glory w/o humility; and included the same invitation offered to Adam.

Ø Jesus preached as well. In His sermons, He quoted God’s word.

After the time in the wilderness being tempted,

JESUS BEGINS HIS PUBLIC PREACHING MINISTRY Matthew 4:17 ¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Ø Notice: Jesus went preaching. Ministry begins with PREACHING, not sharing, proclaiming: “Repent, turn from your foolishness and false doctrine!” Later the Apostle Paul says that what he preaches is: Jesus Crucified for our sins. 1Corinthians 1:23; 2:2

God preaches; God sends preachers (prophets); God comes as Preacher (Jesus)

Jesus preaches for about 3 years and then...

Ø Jesus is crucified, rises, and ascends, but he tells his disciples, “Don’t go preaching yet. Wait for the Fortifier, the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5

The Holy Spirit descended on the church in Acts2 as He had on Jesus and the believers PREACHED Acts2:11,14-ff

Ø One evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence is PREACHING THE GOSPEL

o Acts 2 and 3 Peter preached and people got saved

o Preaching exalts Jesus – crucified, buried, and resurrected The church is born by the Holy Spirit and God uses Preaching to bring forth the church (NEXT WEEK: The Word of God preached and the church)

GOD CHOSE PREACHING AS A MEANS TO SAVE Romans 1:16 The Gospel proclaimed is what God uses to lead people to Himself.

As church history progressed, the church left the tradition of preaching and changed the emphasis to the sacraments (the mass). Part of the reformation brought about by Luther and Calvin and others was God refreshing the emphasis on His Word proclaimed from the pulpits and streets and in homes and workplaces.

GOD CALLED HIS CHURCH BACK TO PREACHING

WHEN:

God Proclaimed > Creation followed

John the Baptizer Proclaimed > Ministry of Jesus followed

Jesus Proclaimed > Hope in the resurrection life followed

Peter Proclaimed > Church; Having all things in common; Teaching; Administrating … followed

THE SERPENT HAS NEVER STOPPED PREACHING

He still preaches through big cathedrals and flashy preachers with audiences in the thousands and budgets in the millions. He still preaches in small gatherings that few who do not attend are even aware of. He is still making the same offers:

Ø You are your own authority

Ø You are equal to God

Ø You can contradict the Word of God

Ø Therefore you can live as you please

Ø He never preaches Repentance!

WHAT WE PREACH TODAY

Ø Man is a sinner. The Word of God says it. Your experience says it.

Ø God is righteous judge executing wrath. Man’s problem is not a small flaw. The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Man apart from Jesus is totally sinful and headed for eternal, deserved, punishment for his rebellion against God.

Ø God is also love and grace. He loves us first because we have nothing to love with since we are without any good in us (the condition being inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve). I hear people talk about who their parents and grandparents are … what a godly momma they had; how many preachers have been in their family… that does not impress me and most importantly, that does not impress God … because if we all go back far enough we will find that we descend from a lying farmer and a drunken sailor… The farmer being Adam and the sailor, Noah.

But God, in His grace, without us having any merit to offer, sent His unique Son, Jesus, who lived a sinless life and then offered that sinless life to pay the death penalty that had been imposed upon all men since Adam, including you.

Ø God’s love is demonstrated in the incarnation, the life, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for us

Ø God requires repentance and gives the power to repent. If you understand your need of a savior to make you right with God, that is evidence that God is offering you salvation in Him. What a total arrogant fool you would be to postpone accepting God’s offer today.

Ø There is salvation and life eternal and abundant in Jesus Christ and none other.

Ø If you want salvation, you can have it in Jesus.

ANGEL PREACHES THE LAST SERMON Revelation 22:17

Some extra scriptures:

Ezekiel 3:17-19 which places the blood of those who go lost upon the head of the preacher who does not warn the wicked of his evil way, and only by warning the wicked can a preacher escape the possibility of being responsible for his destruction.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15).

Is. 55:1-3: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Mt. 11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Rev. 22:17: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Words Matter to God

Words Matter John 17:6-26

We were taught that sticks and stones could break our bones but words could never hurt us. That is not true. Words can hurt the one they are directed at and the one who speaks them. God takes words seriously. God is a communicating God. The one true God, whose name is Jesus, is involved in our world and in our lives. He is a God of revelation and communication, and relationship. God is three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons of God communicate with each other. Jesus prayed to the Father when Jesus was walking the earth. The Father spoke to Jesus, saying “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus told his followers that he would send another fortifier like himself, speaking of he Holy Spirit. He communicated with the Spirit. In the first book of the Bible, God says to God “Let us make man…” Jesus said that words reveal what is in a person’s heart and that by our words we will be justified or condemned (Matthew 12:34, 36-37). Jesus chose his words carefully. The Holy Spirit breathed effective words into the writers of Holy Scripture. We need to learn God’s word, how to apply His word in our everyday lives, and how to effectively communicate His word to our generation.

The world in which we live does not take words as seriously as does God. As a matter of fact the farther a society moves from God, the less trustworthy are the words of that society. Ie. Communism. Atheism. We had an experience of having a Russian exchange student in our home. We found out that lying was part of his life; that the godless culture from which he came did not expect a person’s or a government’s word to be binding. Laws were only guidelines to be breached by deceit or money. He expected immigration laws to flex with money or influence. His signature on the agreement with the student exchange organization was nothing more than ink on paper. He was not detestable. We love him and were honored to have him in our home. But he did not have God’s attitude about words.

WORDS AND THE NEW SPIRITUALITY (New Earth, New Age,…)

Ø Spoken words are not as important as feelings. Truth is what you feel is true (since god is in you and you are god).

Although words are plentiful in this day and age, they are not valued by many. The attitude is: We are not bound by our words or the words of anyone else. Feelings are the only things we can trust. Because feelings come from inside where the divine light of our “goodness” resides. People talk about the economic recession in the US. That is nothing compared to the inflation of words and the depression of their value.

Ø Thought is the enemy of the new spirituality. Words can express thoughts that cause division, so to get in touch with the divine spark within, use mantras (which require no thought).

MANKIND AND WORDS Jesus said that a man will be held accountable for every idle word spoken and that he would be

Ø Judged according to his words. Matthew 12:34, 36-37

James, the brother of Jesus, writes in the general letter given his name that our words (or the tongue that speaks them)

Ø Need to be controlled. James 3:5,ff

The most important words on earth are

GOD’S WORDS.

God’s words are

Ø Written Word - God wrote them down so that they would be preserved accurately. Exodus 31:8 The Hebrews were among the first on earth to have an alphabet which allowed them to keep records. God set down a written record of His character and His requirements for fellowship/relationship with Him. That revelation of Himself and His standard is in His law that he gave to His chosen people through Moses.

God’s words are

Ø Eternal Words. – God’s word will outlast heaven and earth, Jesus said. Matthew 24:35

Gods words are

Ø Faithful Words. – The “Promiser” (the One who promised) is faithful Hebrews 10:23 We can learn God’s word and not have to have an update of the program in a few months or a few years (although we should be looking for support and updates in language). We can build our life system and our expectations on the word of God.; Numbers 23:19 God is not a man. God does not lie. Titus 1:2 in the King James version says God cannot lie. I He spoke something, it would become truth. Jesus said of Himself,
I am the Truth.”

We can trust the word of God and we as followers of Jesus Christ say that we do. We say that the word of God takes precedence over our feelings. But watch out. What if the written word of God says that we are disqualified from something or some position we want because of our being female instead of male, or because of some event in our past over which we are convinced we had no control? We are not going to get into that today. I just want us to be really honest with ourselves and the faithful God of the trustworthy Word. Do we put feelings ahead of words of God sometimes?

God’s word is reliable. God’s word, like Him, does not change.

However, God’s word changes those who pay attention to it.

God’s words are

Ø Life-changing Words. – God’s word can Make[ing] us holy, like Jesus. John 17:14, 17

Ø Revealing Word – God revealed His character and His standard through the words of the law that He wrote. But also, God showed himself through “the Word” becoming flesh, Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. “And we beheld His glory…”

I believe and I believe the bible itself teaches the verbal, plenary inspiration in the original manuscripts, meaning that every word (not just the overarching ideas or concepts) is meaningfully chosen under the superintendence of God.

An example of the precision with which God gave his breath to the writers of the holy scripture can be seen in the Gospel of John. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…”John 1:1

The gospel of John was written while John (the beloved apostle) was in Ephesus. It was written to Greek speakers and Greek thinkers. It was written as a supplement to the other three accounts of the life of Jesus. The other gospels were written to people who had a Jewish context and understanding. Matthew and Mark were surely Jews. And although Luke was most likely a Gentile, he wrote with an understanding of and a demonstration of things that were important to descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. John, on the other hand lived among people who had no understanding of Judaism and therefore no interest in the geneology of Jesus. If anything Jesus said or did lined up with prophecy from the scripture, it would need to be pointed out and explained because the primary readers had not studied the scriptures as youths. Of course, John also was filling in some important facts that he remembered, having walked closely with Jesus. And he saw and heard some things that others might have missed or overlooked the significance of since he was “the disciple who leaned on Jesus’ breast.”

So John’s words needed to communicate on a deep level with people who had not Jewish religious background as well as those who did. Let us look at the Greek word for word = logos.

CONTEXT: (adapted from Daily Study Bible by William Barclay)

o Greek understanding of “word” included word and reason. Logos was the force that caused order such as seasons. Logos equaled the mind of god (whatever concept of god they had)

o To the Greek, logos was also what gave man the power to think. It was the mind of god in man.

o It was the creating and directing power of God – the instrument of God’s creation, God’s stamp upon the universe, and the tiller with which the world was steered.

o Jewish understanding of “word” was more than a sound. A word did something. It had an independent existence. For instance the words of Winston Churchill during WWII did things to the people of Britain that moved them to hang on and fight.

o To the Jew, a word had a power to perform, such as to create or heal as God did by His word. Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6; Psalm 107:20

o Also, the term “the word of God” had special significance to the Jews in John’s day because of its use in the Targumim (Aramaic interpretation of the scripture). In the Targumim, great caution was taken to not make God seem human, so any time there was an anthropomorphism, giving God human characteristics, the term “the word of God” was substituted for YHWH. So Jews knew “the word of God” as a description of God at the time that the Gospel of John was written.

The Words of God are

Ø Words to be Spoken. - Ephesians 4:14-15 We… speaking the truth in love may grow up… So the Word of God is both

o Cure and preventative for immaturity. v.14

Speaking God’s word is to be an

o Exercise (v.15 NOTE) “in love”

HOW DID JESUS DO IT? He Taught: scripture - Luke 24:27; Eternal truth (the character of God) John 17:6-8; Expecting change – vv.14, 17; He taught In the context v.15 in which his hearers lived; He taught His learners to teach v.20; His promise Included [ing] support and updates v.26

Our job is:

First of all to believe and accept the Word of God – the power and reason and person of God who was named Jesus – the revelation and the demands of God which say there is a standard of holiness for eternal and abundant life that can only be realized by believing and following Jesus. Jesus said we must be “born again.” God the Holy Spirit explained that as admitting your separation from God being the result of your own rebellion against God, as your changing the master of your life to Jesus rather than yourself as a result of understanding your rebellion, and as our agreeing with God that Jesus lived a perfect sinless life (which only God could do), that Jesus died on the cross as a sufficient payment for your sin (according to the scripture), and that on the third day Jesus arose from the dead (according to the scripture) and is now seated in the position of authority in heaven saving as many as will believe His words and act on them. = admit, repent, confess. One way to confess Jesus as Lord is to follow his command to be baptized as a witness of your death to your running your own life and being buried to the charges God had against you which are now forgiven due to Jesus’ payment and being raised to a new life in resurrection power to live under new rule.

Secondly, our job is to learn the Word of God and use the word of God to point others to the New Life that is only in Jesus.