Category: Weekly

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Tim 3:12

As we began chapter 2 of our study guide last week, we were asked the following question: “Have you ever been disliked or laughed at for being a Christian?”  This question is perhaps weightier than we realize in light of our verse above.  If we answer, “No…not really,” what does that say about how righteously we live before others?  Our text is clear.  If you live godly, you will at times be mistreated, but cheer up, Christian!  There are great blessings associated with suffering for Christ’s sake!  Let’s consider a few key verses along these lines.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Mt 5:10-12)

Jesus said you are blessed if you suffer for doing right!  This attack on the godly is nothing new.  The Old Testament prophets experienced it, the New Testament apostles endured it, and the church in this present age will also be subjected to it.  What should your response be in it?  Christ says, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad!”  There is great reward reserved for those that suffer for His sake!

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…” (Php 1:29)

According to Strong’s Concordance, the phrase “it has been granted” actually means “to grant as a favor”.  The point is that it is a great privilege to suffer for Christ’s sake.  That’s why we read in Ac 5:41 that after being imprisoned and then beaten before being released, the disciples departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  After all that Christ has suffered for us–bearing ridicule, shame, torture, and ultimately death for our sakes–are we not happy to suffer in any and every way for Him?  Remember, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Is 53:5) Yes, it is a great honor to suffer for Jesus’ name!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (2 Cor 1:3-5)

Do you want to minister to others?  Do you want to be able to sympathize with them in their trials and, instead of empty words, be able to offer them words of comfort and peace?  It is through our sufferings for Christ’s sake and the resulting comfort that God gives us that we then learn to be able to comfort others in their sufferings.  When my wife went through breast cancer treatment six years ago, she became uniquely able to support others that are more recently going through the same thing.  Likewise, there is great blessing in suffering for by it we are equipped to offer consolation to fellow saints who are being persecuted for their faith.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (1 Pet 3:14-16)

Finally, experiencing persecution and responding to it in meekness and love may have an eternally beneficial effect upon those that observe us.  In the context of this text, it gives us an opportunity to share the gospel with those who marvel that we can patiently endure such mistreatment.  It has the potential to convict those by whose hands we are afflicted.  When the Roman centurion saw Christ dying upon the cross while praying to His Father to forgive those that had mocked and ridiculed Him, he knew Christ was a righteous man. (Lk 23:34, 47) It wasn’t simply how Jesus lived that convinced the soldier He was the Son of God, but it was how He suffered and died!  When the Philippian jailer experienced the care that Paul and Silas had for his soul even though they had “laid many stripes on them”, he and his family were brought to faith in Christ. (Ac 16:22-34) Souls have often been saved when men suffer for Christ’s sake and yet deal with their persecutors in love.  “…that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Pet 2:12) No wonder those that suffer for righteousness’ sake are called “blessed”!

Jamie

“…you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Ac 2:38

Our text above reveals a simple truth about all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They ALL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!  Eph 1:13-14 says that it is by our receiving of the gift of the Spirit that we are assured we will receive all the blessings we have in Christ: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  The parable of the ten virgins in Mt 25, however, teaches a very sobering thought regarding the gift of the Spirit–not all who think they possess the Spirit actually do!  Five of the virgins are identified as foolish, and when they say, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” the Bridegroom replies, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”  Since it is possible then to be very religious and yet not know the Lord, we must examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. (2 Cor 13:5) The list below identifies twelve clear characteristics of those in whom the Holy Spirit lives.  Note, this list is not a checklist to make sure you possess four or five of these qualities.  Everyone born of Spirit has ALL of these traits!

1)    You continually cry Abba, Father!
Rom 8:15-16, Gal 4:6—we have access to the Father now and cry for Him (Eph 2:17-18) You don’t have to teach a baby to cry out for mama or daddy!

2)    You are a witness unto Christ
No one has to teach you to testify of Christ–the Spirit prompts you to do so! (Jn 15:26, 1 Jn 4:13-15, Ac 1:8)

3)    You bear the fruit of the Spirit
These are the inner qualities common to all believers. (Gal 5:22-25, Jn 15:2,5,16)

4)    Your life is one of general obedience to the Lord; He is Lord by your confession with your mouth AND your actions
The inner fruits of the Spirit manifest themselves outwardly!  (1 Cor 12:3, Rom 8:4-5, 13-14, 1 Jn 3:9-10, 21-24)

5)    You are sick of sin
1 Jn 5:18 says that which is born of Spirit sins not, but experientially, we know the flesh still sins.  Our response to sin in Rom 7:18-24 is thatwe hate it and kill it out, Rom 8:13

6)    You are growing and maturing in the Lord
You didn’t stop at one doctrine if you’re in Christ (2 Cor 3:17-18), the unspiritual or carnal remain babes (1 Cor 2:14-3:3, Eph 2:19-22, 2 Th 2:13)

7)    Similarly, you have an understanding in the Lord, not the confusion once experienced as you heard the truth
The word of God now makes sense! (1 Cor 2:9-16, 1 Jn 2:20) It’s like the light coming on for disciples in Jn 2:22 and12:15-16 because Jn 14:26 is true.

8)    Because you’re growing, you’re getting stronger by the Spirit
The things that used to crush you no longer do! (Eph 3:16)  To have the Spirit is to have power in Ac 1:8. In Eph 6:10-12, we’re told to be strong because we now can be!  Now we possess God’s strength! (2 Cor 12:9-10) Compare the before and after state of the believer in 2 Tim 2:26 and Jm 4:7.

9)    You love God’s children and desire communion with them
This love is not simply someone attending the same church as believers!  You have a sincere care and affection for the people of God. (1 Th 4:8-9, 1 Pet 1:22-23, 1 Jn 3:10-14, 4:7-8, 12-13)

10) You are equipped by the Spirit with gifts to serve His people
We see a sample of these gifts in Rom 12:4-6.  Who gives these gifts as appropriate where needed? (1 Cor 12:4-12; 14:12) Note, the gifts are for the good of the whole church.

11) You suffer AND endure that suffering for Christ’s sake
Because point 4 was true, 2 Tim 3:12 is the result, and these persecutions for Christ’s sake evidence the Spirit! (1 Pet 4:12-14) Jesus warned this would happen in Jn 15:18-20.  In Ph 1:29, “it is given” = “to grant as a favor”, in other words, it’s our privilege!  In Rom 8:16-17, notice the “if” which must be there to prove we have the Spirit and are not like stony ground hearers in Mk 4:17 who have no root in themselves, i.e. Christ is not in them!

12) You anxiously look for the Lord’s return and your full deliverance
These two things go together per 1 Jn 3:2.  Rom 8:18-23 ties this fact to the indwelling Spirit.  Paul lusted (which is what “a desire” means) for this in Ph 1:23 and so does all the church in 2 Cor 5:1-8 (“groan” = “intensely craving” in v. 2).  In 2 Tim 4:8, we love to see Jesus NOW and look forward to seeing Him then.  You assemble with the saints because where two or three are gathered in His name, Christ is there! (Mt 18:20) In Rev 22:7, 12, Jesus says, “I come quickly”, so the church’s response in v. 20 is, “Come!”

Jamie

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…
1 Peter 3:15

Our text above is an interesting one, especially in light of some of the modern “soul-winning” tactics.  A careful examination of this verse reveals several important points regarding being a witness of Jesus Christ.  These points might just challenge what we’ve been taught over the years concerning sharing the gospel.  It would be worth our time to see if our definition of “witnessing” agrees with the apostle’s instruction.

“sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” – We cannot be an effective witness for Christ unless we see the Lord in His glory.  The word sanctify here means “to make holy”.  Of course, we can’t make God any more holy than He already is.  This phrase tells us rather that we must witness with a clear view of His holiness.  As the verse reads, He must be holy “in your hearts”!  How can we declare His greatness to others if we don’t stand in awe of His majesty ourselves?  If you ever see Jesus Christ in His glory, no one will have to teach you what to say as His witness.  You will confess His absolute holiness, His eternal righteousness, and His great power.  You will declare that He alone is mighty to save! (Is 63:1)

“always be ready” – Witnessing isn’t something that only happens one night a week with your church group or twice a year on a mission trip.  God provides opportunities for witnessing “always”!  So, how can we always be ready?  By practicing the other things the word of God instructs us to “always” do!  We should be ever watchful and prayerful. (Lk 21:36, Eph 6:18) We should live in constant thankfulness to God for all things, never complaining but ever rejoicing! (Eph 5:20, Ph 2:14, 4:4) We should be continually denying this flesh, dying to its lusts and appetites, that Christ might be manifested in us. (2 Cor 4:10) We should always meditate upon the word of God, walking in constant obedience to what He’s called us to do. (1 Tim 4:13-15, 1 Cro 15:58) In short, if we would “always” be ready, we should be “always” doing what we do for the glory of God! (Col 3:17, 1 Cor 10:31)

“to give a defense to everyone who asks” – Notice this witness is a “defense”, not an “offense”.  In football, the offense determines the play, while the job of the defense is to properly respond to it.  In other words, our defense is a response to questioning by others.  The way we live our lives should be such a strong testimony that it makes others ask, “Why do you live the way you do?”  When they see others crushed by the same experiences in which we triumph, it should prompt them to question, “Why are you so hopeful and not in despair like others would be in your situation?”  Like the godly wife that’s married to an unbelieving husband in 1 Pet 3:1, our manner of life should preach the gospel so strongly that lost souls, “without a word, may be one by the conduct” of the Christians they see living around them.  We can quote the Bible all day, but we destroy our witness if the things we do don’t back up the word we’re speaking.  It is by our “good works which they observe” that men will be affected for their eternal good so that they might “glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Pet 2:12, Mt 5:16)

“with meekness and fear” – We must not share the hope we have with others in a high-minded, I-know-more-than-you-do sort of way.  We are to deal with others in meekness.  “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth…” (2 Tim 2:24-25) How can we deal with all men in meekness?  By also maintaining a proper “fear” of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. (Ps 111:10) When we properly fear God, we won’t lose sight of who we were before God saved us.  If we always remember where we came from, we will be able to be a servant to all men and will never think of ourselves as better than anyone else.  “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Ph 2:3)

Jamie

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

Last week, we considered the first two practices of which the early church “continued steadfastly”: 1) they were focused upon the apostles’ doctrine, i.e. they had a love and hunger for the word of God, and 2) they continued in fellowship, i.e. they loved one another’s company and were united as the body of Christ.  This week we want to consider the final two items, revealed in our text above, about which the early church busied themselves.

We see next that they continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread. I think a couple of things are referred to by this statement. First, it reveals the practical way in which they lived. Their lives were characterized by simplicity, contentment, and care for one another. They didn’t seek lives of extravagance, desiring the delicacies of this present world, but were satisfied with merely the breaking of bread. Even as we are instructed to be in 1 Tim 6:8, they were content with simply having food and clothing. They “ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart”. (v. 46) And their care for each other is revealed in this breaking of bread for no one did without according to Ac 4:34-35. There was not “anyone among them who lacked,” and “they distributed to each as anyone had need.”

The second conclusion we must draw from the declaration of their steadfastness in the breaking of bread is a spiritual one. We can’t consider the phrase “breaking of bread” without numerous passages coming to mind concerning the Lord Jesus being the spiritual bread that sustains every believer. As Jesus declared in Jn 6:51: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…” Christ was the bread that was broken and sustained the early church, even as every true believer is sustained today. He was their focus and desire. They hungered and thirsted after righteousness, and they were filled! (Mt 5:6)

Last of all, they were a praying people. This truth was the evidence that the Spirit of God had indeed fallen upon them because both Rom 8:15 and Gal 4:6 remind us that the one thing God’s Spirit within us will continually do is cry out “Abba, Father!” You don’t have to teach a child to cry out to his mother or father. It’s completely natural. It would be strange if he didn’t! Likewise, every true child of God cries out to his or her heavenly Father, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” (Eph 6:18) We have One who is our hope, and it’s not the person sitting in the White House (regardless of whether or not your candidate won this past Tuesday).  Our hope is in the Person sitting upon the throne of heaven, and to Him we must continually cry!

I want to us to notice one more important point at the end of our text. This church grew, but how did it grow? They didn’t form an outreach committee to determine the best way to reach the surrounding population. They didn’t take a poll to determine what would attract the most people. They were focused on God. They simply lived in obedience to Him, “continuing daily…praising God.” And what was the result? God gave them “favor with all the people,” and “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Such is the only way the true church can grow. Men can come up with creative ways to build assemblies, but only God can build His church. We must simply be faithful to do what God has called the church to do–preach the gospel!  Cast that precious seed, church!  God will see that it brings forth fruit to the praise of His glory.  We can water and plant, but only God gives the increase! (1 Co 3:6)

Jamie

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

What is the purpose of the church? How should she spend her time? There are a lot of answers floating around to those questions, but what does Scripture teach? Our text reveals what the early church was like in its purity just after God gave His Spirit on Pentecost. These Christians are an example to us, and we should measure our assemblies today by their standard. We find there are four things here in which the early church “continued steadfastly.”  We want to consider the first two today.

First of all, there was a steadfast continuance in the “apostles’ doctrine,” i.e. the word of God. Many churches today have diminished their focus on faithfully teaching and preaching the word in favor of more entertaining forms of “worship”. Why? Because the people that gather have no heart for the truth! Paul warns of this day in 2 Tim 2:3 stating, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” Brothers and sisters, the time is here! We would do well to encourage our pastors and teachers to faithfully do what Paul tells Timothy in v. 2: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

A brother told me recently that he was convicted many years ago at a conference when the speaker said the biggest issue in the modern church was spiritual illiteracy.  As the speaker expounded on that thought, my friend realized he was included in the spiritually illiterate.  He attended church regularly but couldn’t tell you what the word of God said!  Sure, he could quote the verses we’ve all heard repeatedly, but he had no deep understanding in the word.  If you ever get a taste of the richness of the word of God, you’ll seek it continually!  As 1 Pet 2:2-3 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

The second practice of the early church was that they were characterized by unity. They continued steadfastly in “fellowship.” They loved the brethren! Isn’t that how Jesus said everyone would know that we were His disciples? (Jn 13:35) Their unity is evident all throughout our portion of Scripture. V. 44 says “all who believed were together, and had all things in common.” V. 46 reveals they were in “one accord” and broke bread “from house to house.” In other words, the early Christians spent much time with each other, and enjoyed rich fellowship in the Lord. As Ac 4:32 further describes them, they “were of one heart and one soul”.

One of the issues in the modern church that greatly hinders her witness is division among the brethren!  We have been so divided by denominational and doctrinal lines that the church is weak and fragmented today.  Paul warned the Corinthian church against this division.  “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor 1:12-13) He says plainly that such activity is fleshly and inordinate.  “…for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?  For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” (1 Cor 3:3-4)

I understand that Christians sometimes have differences of opinions, but we should have a bond that unites us together that is far stronger than such disagreements.  If we both love the Lord Jesus above all else, why should our fellowship be hindered.  1 Cor 3 closes with “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.  And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”  We ought to rejoice together in the Lord, exalting Christ with one accord!  May we be continually “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” remembering that there is only “one body” of believers. (Eph 4:3-4)

Jamie