Romans 10:8-17 Acts 4:1-19 The Evidences Of A Church On Fire
During 1998 the Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle experiencd a break and enter by three teenagers under 18 years old. Looking for money to buy drugs, the hoodlums found none, so they torched the church. I was rung and went down to the building. They had burned out my office and then this area on the screen. $200,000 damage. The church was on fire. I stood near the steps with a key to let the firemen into the building past the security grills. There was a detective. "First time I've ever seen you in church." " First time I'd seen the church on fire."
When church catches fire people turn up who you'd never expect to turn up.
On the day of Pentecost the church was a church ablaze. In the early part of the book of acts growth was recorded as by Additions, later on it by multiplications. by AD 70 it is believed that half of population of Jerusalem came to know the Lord, maybe 100,000.
It was like a bush fire…jumping from tree top to tree top.
A church on fire.
In 1515, Pope Leo X granted a plenary indulgence intended to finance the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It would apply to almost any sin, including adultery and theft. "As soon as a coin in the coffer rings / the soul from purgatory springs." He had preached as early as 1514 against the abuse of indulgences and the way they cheapened grace rather than requiring true repentance.[15] Luther became especially concerned in 1517
"When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." In the first few theses Luther develops the idea of repentance as the Christian's inner struggle with sin rather than the external system of sacramental confession.[21] Theses 5–7 then state that the pope can only release people from the punishments he has administered himself or through the church's system of penance, not the guilt of sin.
During the period of the Reformation, evangelical churches became churches on fire.
How can we be a church on fire here in the Penrith region?
My favourite television show was The Crocodile Hunter. Amazingly, the show became the most significant television show worldwide!
Listen to what the lecturer in Evangelism from South Eastern Baptist Seminary says; "It has been a long time since I was as excited about a television show as I am about The Crocodile Hunter. Whenever I speak to young people, I ask how many of them know who the Crocodile Hunter is. The response is telling. Nearly every one of them knows who he is. The show's star, Steve Irwin, has jumped from "just another host" of a little known program on a USA smaller market cable network, to the host of primetime specials on network television and an occasional appearance on movies and commercials. Steve Irwin's incredible rise in popularity can teach us some things. The enthusiasm of young people from age 5 to 25 for the show is obvious. They know his sayings: "She's a beauty!" (I have to admit even a snake lover like me has a hard time calling a salt water crocodile beautiful!) If a particular python attempts to bite him, you will hear him say, "Oh, you're being grumpy, mate!" "Danger! Danger! Danger!" is another of his popular sayings." Believe it or not, I think Steve Irwin's rise — from a man running a zoo in Queensland to an internationally known figure — can teach us some things about how to make an impact on this culture.
If we would be a Church on Fire:
- We Must Serve The Right Master
Acts 4: "By what power or by what name did you do this?"8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead---by him this man is standing before you well.11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
1. Be Real 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Steve Irwin was real. His videography is inferior to what you see in National Geographic specials, but no one cares! We live in a society today where reality is in, and synthetic is out. Look at the popularity of shows like Survivor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Traitors and all the rest (except the real love boat.. I heard it sank, or love island…yuck!
Everyday people rather than phony Hollywood actors. The primary way The Crocodile Hunter grew was to reach the masses not through marketing but through reaching those who are sick and tired of slick approaches to push a product. This culture wants real, not slick.
The best way to witness in this postmodern, increasingly radically unchurched culture is to be just like the early believers. They did not make an impression by their background, or their position, but by their genuine, obvious, and deep love for Jesus. Acts 4:13 gives one of many examples of this:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant, they marveled; and they realized that they had been with Jesus.
The most remarkable aspect of the early believers was that they were unremarkable. That, and they were real. And they had had a real experience with Jesus. Remember how Moses' face shone whenever he went into the tabernacle to speak with the Lord?
Is there something about you that says you have been with Jesus? Are you really serving the right Master? Or are you trying to serve yourself and Him. Who is more important to you really? Are you really His?
Be Passionate He is the Cornerstone
Be passionate. Have you ever seen anyone so incredibly zealous for a bunch of lizards and snakes? On several occasions he has said, "I would give my life to save this crocodile!" Now that is passion! Oh, that we as believers would have such a passion for Jesus, who is of infinitely greater value than a reptile! Our lost culture desperately needs people who will live for Jesus with a passion. Great movements of God in history, from the disciples in the book of Acts, from the First Great Awakening in the C17th to the Jesus Movement, have been led by people ablaze with a passion for God.
Now I would have to admit, I find his passion a little strange, but we as believers have Someone that motivates us to a real passion.
Be Passionate if you really love Him He will rub off on you.
We Have Someone to Be Passionate About!
Ps 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Isa 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. 17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.
CORNERSTONE A stone placed at the corner, or the intersecting angle, where two walls of a building come together. In biblical times, buildings were often made of cut, squared stone. By uniting two intersecting walls, a cornerstone helped align the whole building and tie it together.
This chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of the church, because "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12) and in Him "the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph 2:21). All who believe in Jesus find a solid Rock on which to build their lives.
The Old Testament passages were understood by the rabbis to be Messianic, and were properly so applied by the New Testament writers.
If we would be a Church on Fire:
- We Must Send The Right Message.
He Saves! "For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:11-13
By Grace
Through Faith
In Christ alone
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Do we really make it clear how people are really saved? There is salvation in none other than Jesus. Now that is unpopular to be said in Australia. I heard on a Current Affair a church being roasted for preaching that there is a literal hell and people need to get saved.
Nut We must send the right message:
Because No One Else Has Been Appointed
God appointed Jesus before anyone rejected Him.
Because No Other Sacrifice Is Sufficient
He is the only eternal sacrifice (Rom. 3:25 and Eph. 1:7).
Because No Other Power Is Equal To Bring About A New Creation
Because No Other Way Has Been Provided
Salvation is not of works. It is not our righteousness that matters.
Righteousness must be internal not just external.
Because No Other Door Opens Into Life
All other doors open into death.
Because No One Else Has Power Over Death
Because No One Else Has A Place Like He Has
If we would be a Church on Fire:
3. We Must Speak With The Right Motivation
A. There was a compassion about what they spoke of.
To stop a Christian from speaking about Jesus is like telling: The wind to stop blowing * The sun to stop shining * The rain to stop falling * The flowers to stop blooming * The grass to quit growing "We can't help but speak."
B. There was a compulsion
Jeremiah said, "Thy word was like a burning fire shutup in my bowels."
Paul said, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel."
Because He's told me to do it and there is something in me that compels me to share the gospel.
That Means We Will Take Risks
Steve Irwin took risks to get the job done. No, that is inaccurate. He loved risks. He was crazy! Why do we say he is crazy? Because he took risks just to get the job done of having some spectacular footage. Do you think that his goal was just to put some nice or not so nice animals on film? I think he wanted other people to see the film. In fact I think he wanted everyone in the world to see his footage. I don't think Steve Irwin is as dumb as he looks. I think he has weighed the risks against the goal quite adequately. Obviously his goal is to be the most known man in the world. Maybe he looked at the other most known men in the world. Do you remember the name Evel Kneivel? That name became synonymous with daring stunts. Risks! He weighed the risks against the goal. To get the job done of being the most known man in the world.
Steve Irwin's first show that put him on the map concerned his adventure to capture the ten most venomous snakes in the world with his bare hands. It seems he spent his life trying to get as close to being a crocodile dinner as possible. He would not be happy unless he were chasing down a wild pig by foot, or grabbing a king brown with his bare hands, or jumping in a river on the back of an crocodile. He made sacrifices to save animals. Oh that we would make sacrifices for the salvation of the lost! Could God even use a Crocodile Hunter to spur us to take risks to reach the unchurched at any cost?
We have a greater goal.
The goal is that the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that is found in the Lord Jesus should be made known right around the world. Every person needs to know. Eternal life and eternal destruction ride in the balances.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The risk of losing a friend. Be real Be Passionate take risks!
New Testament Words Describing Evangelism
Witnessing martureo Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Talking laleo Acts 4:1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
Evangelizing euangelizo Acts 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Announcing kerusso Acts 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
HCSB Acts 8:4 So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached the Messiah to them
Confusing suncheo Acts 9:22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Explaining dianoigo Acts 17: 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
Demonstrating paratithemai Acts 17:3
Preaching katangello Acts 17:3
Persuading peitho Acts 17:4 2 Cor. 5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.
Teaching didasko Matt. 28:20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Discipling matheteuo Matt. 28:19
Reasoning dialegomai Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Discussing suzeteo Acts 6:9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
Declaring gnorizo 1 Cor. 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel
Winning kerdaino 1 Pet. 3:1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
Proving sumbibazo Acts 9:22
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