“We want an Acts type church.” First off, I never know what that really means. Second, I’m not sure people really know what they are asking for when they ask for an Acts type church. What people generally want, in my opinion, is the RESULTS of the Acts church. I’m not sure they are willing to BE the Acts church (me included at times). Here is the second thing I’m noticing in Acts.
If you don’t want opposition…don’t preach the Gospel. Acts 4:1 says “While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captian of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.” The disciples didn’t pull any punches. They weren’t just preaching Jesus, they were preaching the FULL Gospel. REPENT – which literally means to turn from the way you are living and live for Christ! FILLED – They were teaching the filling of the Holy Spirit which empowers us to live the new life. JESUS – as THE ONLY WAY to Heaven. SACRIFICE – That the cost of being a follower of Jesus is EVERYTHING and nothing less. DEVOTION – SERVING – GIVING – etc. The Gospel demands 100% of us and nothing less.
If you want to BE the Acts church you MUST preach these things. And the result? Some leaders will be VERY disturbed. The human heart, in it’s sinfulness, DOES NOT like the Gospel. If you preach the Gospel YOU WILL BE OPPOSED. Sadly, you may be opposed by “spiritual” leaders in your own church or community. The ones who were the angriest at the disciples were the religious leader and elite of the day! If you preach Jesus as the only way, you WILL be opposed. If you preach that without repentance there is no salvation you WILL be opposed. If you preach the power of the Holy Spirit filling the heart of the believer you WILL be opposed. If you preach Sacrifice, deovtion, serving and giving YOU WILL BE OPPOSED. If you don’t want to be opposed…don’t preach the Gospel.
BUT…BUT…But if you want to see a harvest of lives TRANSFORMED by the power of God then DON’T LET OPPOSITION hold you back. Peter preached repentance and on ONE DAY thousands were added to the church. People were healed. Sinners were transformed. And when the opposition said “Stop or we’ll kill you.” Peter’s reply? “We cannot help but speak about what we have seen or heard.” I think too many pastors/churches are afraid to preach the Gospel for fear of opposition. The Gospel effects EVERY area of our life. Money, sex, relationships, marriage, work, family, leisure, EVERYTHING. But so often the Gospel is left out of those areas of our lives and our preaching.
Leonard Ravenhill said “If Jesus preached the same message some minister’s preach today, He would have never been crucified.” OUCH! I hope there is ALWAYS opposition to what we preach, it just might be a sign that we’re preaching something good!
Trying to preach the Gospel,
Jeff
