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Talk about excitement! You
can feel it when you read the book of Acts. It begins with a few of
Jesus' followers who were uncertain about what was going to happen next.
But they were sure about one thing: Jesus had come back from death! The
fact that their leader was alive made them bold enough to go right back
into Jerusalem where He had been crucified. There, in obedience to His
directions before He ascended into heaven, they waited for the baptism of
the Holy Spirit and anticipated witnessing for Him in Jerusalem, Judea,
Samaria, and the whole world.
Ten days later, the
promised event occurred. The Holy Spirit came, they declared the
wonderful works of God in dialects they had never learned, Peter preached
a great sermon, and 3,000 people repented and were baptized. The church
was born. That small group began proclaiming the good news about Jesus in
the power of the Spirit. They told people that Jesus Christ is the
Messiah, that He died to pay the price for sin, and that He conquered
death.
They began the most
dynamic movement in history. They swept away all obstacles as they
proclaimed their message with spontaneity and power. They reflected a
sense of God's presence. They showed such love for one another that
sinners were drawn to them. In the way they proclaimed the gospel and
lived out its truths, they gave us a model. If we follow their example,
we will make as great an impact on our culture as they did on theirs.
There is no definite
declaration in Acts that says, "Multitudes of unsaved people turned
to Christ because they were so deeply impressed by the love Christians
had for one another." But love was so obvious among these
first-century believers that we can be sure the non-Christians saw it.
Jesus had told His disciples, "By this all will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
The early Christians acted
as a support group for one another. They shared their possessions (Acts
2:44-47). They helped their widows (Acts 6:1-7). The believers in
Jerusalem held an all-night prayer meeting for Peter when they learned
that he had been imprisoned and was scheduled for execution (Acts 12).
The Christians in Macedonia, though poor and oppressed, astonished Paul
by the amount of money they raised for the persecuted believers in
Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8,9). In his letter to the Christians in Colossae,
written during the Acts period, Paul thanked God for their love for all
the saints (Col. 1:4). No wonder multitudes came to Christ during those
days. This kind of love among believers speaks eloquently to the unsaved
who observe.
Such supportive
relationships prevailed for a time. The church father Tertullian (about
AD 200) quoted the heathen as saying about Christians: "See how they
love one another . . . see how they are ready even to die for one
another." He saw this as a great factor in causing people to believe
on Jesus Christ.
When this love is no
longer in evidence, the appeal of the gospel is largely lost. John
Chrysostom, who lived about 150 years after Tertullian, complained,
". . . even now there is nothing else that causes the heathen to
stumble, except that there is no love . . . . Their own doctrines they
have long condemned, and in like manner they admire ours, but they are
hindered by our mode of life."
Is it possible that the
same criticism would apply to us today? We talk about fellowship. We
enjoy getting together with fellow Christians. We may even enjoy times of
Bible study and prayer. But we usually do so with people of our own
income bracket and with little sacrificial love. Such meetings are okay,
but they don't really fit the meaning of the Greek word koinonia,
translated "fellowship" in Acts 2:42. Genuine fellowship
involves costly sharing--helping one another financially, bearing one
another's burdens, and rejoicing over one another's blessings.
Unsaved people would be
impressed if they saw New Testament fellowship among Christians. If
wealthy believers in the suburbs who pour great sums of money into
lavishly furnished buildings would show an interest in small, struggling
works in the ghetto, non-Christians would be much more inclined to
believe the gospel.
One of the factors that
caused the first-century church to grow so rapidly was the oneness of the
saints. The slave and his master worshiped in the same building--usually
a house. Yes, there were some problems to be worked out even then, as
indicated in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. But true fellowship prevailed, and
the church grew by leaps and bounds.
History has shown that
large numbers come to Christ whenever affluent believers take a keen
interest in their poorer brothers and sisters in the Lord. We must remind
ourselves of this responsibility toward the poor (Gal. 2:10). This does
not mean, of course, that we abandon our efforts to evangelize on college
campuses or among the prominent in our society. We thank God for such
ministries. But many church historians affirm that great "religious
movements are born among the poor" (Howard A. Snyder, The Problem of
Wineskins, p.47).
The poor will do their own
evangelizing, but they can't do it effectively unless others share with
them their time, talents, and money. Then, as these lower income
Christians start doing better financially, they must not forget their
roots and desert the people who need them. Jesus repeatedly emphasized
the need to preach the gospel to the poor (Matt. 11:1-6; Luke 4:18-21).
Snyder comments:
“Every denomination needs
a continuing infusion of hundreds of new members from among the poor--men
and women saved right out of the crisis of their poverty. This would keep
us shook up and spiritually alive. It would keep our churches from being
captured by any one class or political philosophy, and thus from being
compromised. Our radical differences in the world would unite us in
Christ.” (The Problem of Wineskins, p.47).
The early Christians practiced
real fellowship. They followed the example of Christ, who reached out in
love and accepted all kinds of people. We should too! We need to start
small ministries among the poor. It won't be easy. It will require more
than spending a few dollars. It will demand a share of our time as we do
more than hire a few workers. We must become personally involved, rubbing
shoulders with the people we want to reach. It worked in New Testament
days and it will work today.
Thomas and Earl Koon, one
a successful pastor and the other a missionary in Australia, are products
of this kind of effort. They came to know the Lord because two Christian
men opened a store-front mission in a depressed area, recruited
Christians to help them, and brought people into a Sunday afternoon
meeting. Those efforts were truly the result of practicing the love of
Christ.
The first Christians were
also effective in evangelism because their lives reflected the presence
of Christ. They had been touched by God, and it showed. Sometimes His
presence was obvious through miracles such as the sound like that of wind
and the tongues-speaking on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), the
"wonders and signs" (2:43), the healings (3:1-10), the shaking
of a meeting place (4:31), the sudden judgment of two who lied to God
(5:1-11), the restoration of life to the dead (9:36-43), and the breaking
of prisoners' chains (12:5-19).
God provided many such
wonders and signs and healings as evidence of His presence with the men
and women who preached Christ. And although those open signs and wonders
became less frequent as the apostolic period drew to its close, the Lord
continued to work miracles in the lives of His people.
The power of God's
presence, however, was not limited to those occasions when the Lord
supernaturally intervened to heal or deliver. Even during the early days,
when these outward signs were most prevalent, there were situations in
which the followers of Jesus reflected God's presence by the way they
suffered.
God allowed the Jewish
authorities to arrest and scourge Peter and John (5:22-42). He permitted
the Sanhedrin to kill Stephen by stoning (7:54-60). He let Saul of Tarsus
arrest and imprison believers (8:1-3). He didn't prevent Herod from
beheading the apostle James (12:1-4).
During the historical
period covered by the book of Acts, God allowed Paul to be beaten many
times, to be stoned and left for dead once, to be shipwrecked three
times, to endure hunger and cold again and again, and to live with a
painful physical affliction he called his "thorn in the flesh"
(2 Cor. 11:1-12:10). But on these occasions the strength of God's
presence was just as real as when He supernaturally intervened.
Think of the impression
Stephen made on the men in the Jewish council who tried and convicted him
of blasphemy. During his trial, they "saw his face as the face of an
angel" (Acts 6:15). After Stephen gave his defense, he indicted them
for the murder of the Messiah. The council was so furious with him that
they "gnashed at him with their teeth" (7:54), "cried out
with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
and they cast him out of the city and stoned him" (7:57,58). While
they were stoning him, the last thing Stephen said before he died was,
"Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (7:60).
Think of the impression
Paul and Silas had on the guards and prisoners in Philippi. Even though
their backs were lacerated from being beaten with rods and their feet
were fastened in stocks, Paul and Silas prayed and sang songs of praise
to God (16:23-25). And "the prisoners were listening to them"
(v.25). No wonder the inmates remained in their cells when the prison
doors burst open! No wonder the jailer and his household were saved that
night! They must have sensed that in being near Paul and Silas they were
in the very presence of God.
God's presence should be
just as obvious in our lives. It can be! I know of a lady who was
admitted to the hospital for a very painful operation. After some
discussion, she realized that her roommate was not at all interested in
spiritual things. So the lady prayed that somehow her conduct after her
surgery would supplement her words of testimony. It did. The other woman
and her husband both became Christians because, in their words, "We
could see God in her!"
During a television
interview, a Christian doctor whose specialty puts him in touch with many
terminally ill patients said that some of his non-Christian colleagues
have been deeply moved by the calm assurance of believers facing
suffering and death. They told him they could explain most unexpected
healings and remissions, but they couldn't explain away the presence of
God in these suffering, dying saints.
We can also reflect God's
presence in the normal course of life, not just in times of suffering.
Recently, a young woman who had strayed from the Lord and married an
unsaved man, rededicated her life to God. Her husband was impressed by
the change he saw in her. He started attending church with her, and after
a year he accepted Christ as his Savior. He said it wasn't the preaching
that led him to this decision, but it was the change he saw in his wife
and the evidence of Christ's presence. Today his parents, a brother, and
a sister are saved. His father testified, "I could tell that God had
done something wonderful in his life, and I wanted what he had."
This evidence of the
supernatural is an absolute essential for spiritual effectiveness, and it
should be evident in every believer. It can't be faked or produced
through effort. If we have it, we won't even be aware of it. It is an
unconscious, unplanned, Spirit-produced reality that comes through an
obedient walk with God.
These first followers of
Jesus spread the good news by verbal communication--either by powerful
sermons, by serious discussions with non-Christians, or simply by telling
their story wherever they went. In one way or another, they all preached
the good news.
The first Christians
didn't have church buildings, but they held large public meetings. On the
Day of Pentecost described in Acts 2, Peter delivered a powerful address
to the thousands who were drawn to the temple by the sound of the rushing
wind. Some 3,000 people turned to the Lord. Philip spoke to a large
gathering in Samaria (8:5,6). Paul preached with great effectiveness in
the synagogues at Damascus (9:20), Cyprus (13:5), Antioch (13:15), and
Iconium (14:1-7). He also gave a memorable appeal on Mars' Hill
(17:22-33).
Proclaiming God's message
to large groups of people brought multitudes to Christ during the first
century. It has been a powerful means of evangelism ever since. Even
today, such communication fills a very important role in evangelism. TV,
radio, mass meetings, church gatherings, and open-air services featuring
effective preaching will always fill a vital place wherever people are
free to use them.
The main problem today is
that these large gatherings usually draw mostly Christians. Nonbelievers
seldom attend. Even excellent media publicity won't attract many of them.
That's where we come into the picture. We may not be able to preach
before a crowd, but we can pray and invite people.
Such an invitation should
be more than just telling people what time the service starts. If we
really want to reach them, we have to become involved. Ask them to dinner
and invite them to go to church with you. In this way, although you are
not involved in a public service, you can assist those who have been
called to preach the Word of God.
The gospel can also be
proclaimed in informal gatherings like a home Bible study. Yes, this is a
form of preaching. While the Greek term kerusso usually denotes an
address before a crowd, the expressions evangelizo (used 52 times) and
dialegomai (used 13 times) may denote telling the good news and reasoning
about Christ in smaller groups.
Remember, the
first-century Christians had no church buildings. They often met in homes
(Acts 2:46; 5:42; 18:7; 20:20; Rom. 16:5; Philem. 2). This kind of
proclaiming provides a wonderful opportunity to present Christ without
standing behind a pulpit.
The message of the gospel
can also be given by one individual to another. This is indicated in many
New Testament accounts. Jesus often spent time with just one person. For
example: Nicodemus (John 3), the Samaritan woman (John 4), the rich young
ruler (Luke 18). The people who "went everywhere preaching the
word" (Acts 8:4) were ordinary people (the apostles remained in
Jerusalem) who just told others the good news--probably one-to-one. When
Luke went on to tell about the preaching of Philip (8:5), he used a
different Greek verb, one that more specifically suggests public
proclamation. But a little later he described Philip's preaching in a
one-to-one meeting with an Ethiopian eunuch (8:35).
In summary, the
first-century Christians were "communicators." Some proclaimed
the Word of God to large gatherings. Others used their homes as meeting
places. And almost all of them told the good news wherever they
went. Formal preaching is still
an important way to communicate the gospel. And we are fortunate to have
many outstanding speakers today. The problem, though, is that relatively
few unsaved people will go to church, attend evangelistic mass meetings,
or change the channel on the TV to listen to a preacher. We must
therefore be more effective in using small gatherings in homes. And we
must get back to talking about Jesus wherever we are.
Are we “communicators”
like the first-century Christians? Why do we find it difficult to break
the silence about the best news and most important Person the world has
ever known? We aren't that way about other things. If we were to discover
a cure for arthritis or tennis elbow, you can be sure that we would pass
along the news to anyone we thought could benefit from it. On the other
hand, talking to someone about Christ is admittedly more difficult than
telling them about a good restaurant. There are many sound barriers--some
necessary, some unnecessary.
Many people are not only
unaware of their need of Christ (they assume they're doing just fine
without Him), but they are also predisposed against Him. Talking to them
about the Lord is like trying to sell an ice cube to an eskimo. They've
heard rumors. They don't think they need it. They don't want to open
themselves to a discussion or an argument that they feel might result in
their being pressured into making a decision they don't want to make.
A second sound barrier is
found in the Christian strategy itself. According to the New Testament,
there are times when we are better off not talking. Wisdom shows that
there are times when we should let our actions break the ice and create a
sense of interest. Peter told Christian wives that they should let their
Christian behavior do the talking for them in the presence of unbelieving
husbands (1 Pet. 3:1-3). Later in the same chapter, Peter told believers
that they should endure persecution in a manner that would cause
unbelievers to ask questions about their faith. It is implied that the
lives of these Christians would speak louder than their words.
One reason some of us
don't know what to say to non-Christians is that we are not spending
enough of the right kind of time with them. We are like physicians who
only associate with people who are not ill. We are at a loss for words
because we have limited ourselves to talking lovingly and meaningfully
only to other Christians. The One who came to us as "the Word"
gave us a different example. At the right time, He left the comforts of
Home to go to the rescue. In fact, He went so deep into enemy territory
that He was criticized by some of the most religious people of His day.
Another reason for our
silence is our fear of failure. We're afraid we will encounter questions
we won't be able to answer and objections we won't be able to handle.
This fear is understandable. Few Christians are so well-versed in the
Bible, history, or science that they can effectively answer all the
questions or objections that unbelievers throw at them. But that
shouldn't stop us. God hasn't asked us to tell people what we don't know.
He's asked us to be witnesses to what we do know.
Recently, I went to visit at
the home of a wealthy Christian businessman. As he showed me his large
rooms, walk-in closets, and every kind of convenience, he was smiling.
But then I dropped a bombshell. I said, "John, I imagine you find it
hard to long for heaven." John's face became very serious as he
replied, "Yes. I sometimes think I have too much."
Materialism may rob us of
the spiritual awareness we had when we first accepted Jesus as Savior.
Remember how thrilled you were when you first sensed God's forgiveness
and when the burden of your sin was lifted? Remember when you thought
about the hopeless state of others and wanted to tell them what God had
done for you?
Look at the words of Jesus
to the church at Ephesus: "Nevertheless I have this against you,
that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you
have fallen; repent and do the first works" (Rev. 2:4,5). How
pertinent and relevant these words are to us today!
Remember what you were
before you were saved and what happened to you when you came to Christ.
Remember how joy replaced gloom, peace replaced fear, and gratitude
replaced discontent.
Repent of your sin. Admit
that you have been wrong. Don't blame circumstances or other people.
Accept responsibility for your sin.
Do what you once did. Talk about Jesus
again. Break the silence! The first-century Christians were not a silent
group. They wouldn't have accomplished what they did if they had been.
Too many of us are quiet today. We must break our silence!
Curtis
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