Old Greenbrier Baptist Church

Blog for Week of July 16, 2017

The Power of Prayer

Acts 4:23-31

How much power do we use each day? We take for granted many of the conveniences that we use every day like an electric fan. How long can you run a 50W electric fan on $0.10 of electric? The answer is 20 hours, if you pay ten cents per kilowatt hour of electricity like I do. Do you think you could pay someone ten cents to stand in one place and fan you that long? We often under-estimate how much power we receive from things we consider small. In our journey through Acts, we pause to examine the power of prayer. A small investment in prayer yielded a big return for Peter and the other first century Christians.

Peter and John had healed a crippled man just outside the Temple (cf., Acts 3:1-10). That miracle drew a crowd to whom they preached the gospel (cf., Acts 3:11-26). Remember the emphasis in Acts is not on the miracle but on the proclamation of the gospel. Temple officials imprisoned them overnight so that the Sanhedrin could examine them (cf., Ac 4:3). They couldn’t deny the miracle and let them go with a warning to quit preaching Jesus (cf., Ac 4:17). What do you think happened next? The believers prayed.

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:23-31 NIV).

Power Identified (23-28)

The text says, “. . . they raised their voices together in prayer to God” (24). Certainly everyone was glad that Peter and John had been released from prison. The believers’ reaction to the threats of the officials was not fear or anger but prayer.

First, they began their prayer by addressing it to their “Sovereign Lord” (24). The title Sovereign Lord (Gk., despotes) means “all powerful one.” God is superior to all humans even powerful world rulers like the Sanhedrin. They called on the ultimate power source for help in this time of need.

Second, they quoted scripture (25-26). They quoted Psalm 2:1-2, which is a royal psalm of David. In this psalm David proclaimed that earthly powers naturally rebel against all-powerful God. Specifically, they stand against God’s “Anointed One” (26), which is a reference to Messiah, whom we know is the Lord Jesus Christ. They quoted this scripture because it applied to their situation. The Jewish officials took a stand against Jesus, the Anointed One, and those who followed him and preached his good news. Here is a side note for us and our prayers: Look for scriptures that properly apply to your situation and include them in your prayers.

Third, they acknowledged the opposition was not about them but about God’s plan. The kingdom of God and the kingdoms/powers/rulers of this world are still in conflict and will be until the end of the world (cf., Rev 19:19, 20:7-9). The kingdom of God lives within his people, the church, today even as it did in the days of Acts. In their prayer, the believers noted that earthly powers (i.e., Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Sanhedrin) worked together “. . . to conspire against your holy servant Jesus . . .” (27). So, they were not surprised by their treatment, and in it they identified more fully with Jesus. They also knew that within the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the earth God’s plan was fulfilled—“They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen” (28).

God is so powerful that even when his power is opposed, he uses the opposition to do his will. Satan and all the powers of the world thought they had defeated Jesus on the cross, but in the cross God won the ultimate victory over the enemies of sin, death, and Hell. The opposition they faced was not about them. It was about God’s plan and purpose in Jesus. We should not be surprised when we face opposition for proclaiming and standing with Jesus. Peter and the others did not see their present persecutions as a problem but as an opportunity through which God could continue to work his plan of salvation and ultimately receive glory.

Power Requested (29-30)

The believers prayed, “Now Lord . . .” (29). The title “Lord” (Gk., kurie) means “benevolent, powerful master.” The tone changed from one of power and conflict to one of loving and powerful support. The believers made three requests of their benevolent and powerful Lord (29-30).

First, they asked the Lord to “. . . consider their threats . . .” (29). They called attention to the threats of the world powers against not just them personally but against the plan and purpose of God for them to preach the gospel. If the believers gave in to these threats, they would be rebellious toward God and his plan.

Second, they asked the Lord to “. . . enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (29). They needed ability and boldness from God. They could not do it on their own. They focused on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, which was their mission. When we face opposition, we must not simply pray for our survival but that God’s purpose will be accomplished in and through us as we do what he has called us to do.

Third, they asked the Lord to “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of . . . Jesus” (30). God confirmed by miracles, signs, and wonders the truth of Jesus’ words. Miracles were not the focus. Proclaiming the word was the focus. Miracles confirmed the word. Believers were not the ones doing the miracles. They were done by God in the name of Jesus. The believers simply prayed that they might be like Jesus by continuing to speak God’s word of salvation with great boldness. They left the confirmation and results in God’s hands. They knew that they might face the same fate as Jesus, but they still trusted in God’s plan and power.

Power Received (31)

After they prayed three things happened. First, the place was “shaken” (Gk., esaleuthe) revealing that God’s powerful presence was with them as it was in Ac 2:1-2. Second, they “were filled” (Gk., eplesthesan) with the Holy Spirit. The enabling/boldness that they requested was given to them by God. Third, their prayer was answered as they continued to speak the word of God with boldness. The word was proclaimed and accompanied by miracles in the Temple itself (cf., Ac 5:12-14). Persecutions continued but so did prayer and powerful proclamation (cf., Ac 5:41-42). Faithful witness is impossible without being preceded by powerful prayer. This is a pattern that we find throughout the Bible: Prayer and action.

When he was opposed, Jesus prayed and acted in faith as he went to the cross. When opposed, the first believers followed Jesus’ example as they prayed and acted in faith. You see the pattern. When we are opposed by the world, we must pray and act in faith. The world calls for the gospel to be silenced, but the church prays for the power of God to proclaim it.

We are blessed to have the freedom to openly proclaim our faith in our country today. We must still pray for our boldness, since we can become complacent both with our freedom and with our need for and dependence upon God for power. We also must pray for the boldness of those who live in circumstances like those of Peter where their lives are on the line just for proclaiming Jesus. Failing to pray for boldness in proclaiming God’s word reveals ignorance about both the powers which oppose the gospel and the power of God which is available to us as we do his will.

How shall we act on the Acts based on what we learn in this passage? Pray – Call on God the ultimate power source; Consider the threat; Look for God’s purpose. Act – Receive anew the filling of God’s Spirit; Witness boldly for Jesus in God’s power.

Blog for Week of July 9, 2017

The Power of the Name

Acts 3:1-10

Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Kim Jong-un, Salman bin Adulaziz Al Saud--You most likely know some, if not all, of these names. Who are they? They are, of course, the President of the United States, the President of Russia, the French Prime Minister, the leader of North Korea, and the King of Saudi Arabia. There are many words that describe them, but one word that applies to all of them is POWER. They are all powerful people in our world today because of the positions they hold. World leaders come and go, but one world leader’s name is still powerful after 2,000 years: JESUS. 

In our journey through Acts so far, we heard Jesus commission the disciples as his “witnesses” and promise power from the Holy Spirit. We saw the result of the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost as the Apostles preached with power. We examined the powerful and sweet fellowship of the early church as they ministered together. In Acts 3, the name of Jesus continued to have power in the world as Peter performed a healing miracle in Jesus’ name.

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him (Acts 3:1-10 NIV).

The Encounter (1-5) 

The account starts innocently as just “One day . . .” (1). It was an ordinary day that would become extraordinary through the power of Jesus’ name (1). “. . . Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon” (1). It was time for the evening sacrifice (Hb., tamid) which was the final fellowship offering made to God at the end of the temple day. Going up to the temple was a part of the Apostles’ daily practice (cf., Ac 2:46).

The text says “ . . . a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple. . . to beg from those going into the temple courts” (2). Rabbis define three pillars of the Jewish faith: Torah, worship, showing kindness or charity. It was a good time to be at the temple gate, since a pious crowd gives more.

Peter and John may have seen this beggar before, or perhaps this was the first day they saw him. How easy it is to go through our daily routines without really seeing those around us. My son Joseph is flying out of LaGuardia airport in NYC now. This week he told me about the homeless people who hang out in the food court there. He saw the same lady sitting at the same table each day, morning and evening. He said he felt compelled that if he saw her there again to give her some food.

On this day this beggar captured Peter’s and John’s attention as he asked them “. . . for money” (3). Peter and John both looked at him, and Peter said, “Look at us!” (4) How often do we turn away, refuse to make eye contact, fail to respond to others in need? God’s salvation and healing is personal. He calls on us to look him in his face, a face filled with love. We must do the same with those that he places in our path. Peter and John had the lame beggar’s full attention as he hoped that the money they would gave him would make this a good day when so many were disappointing days. But there was no money in this deal. Peter had something better to offer.

The Miracle (6-7)

The beggar must have been deflated with disappointment by Peter’s first words, “Silver or gold I do not have . . .” (6). Then he probably couldn’t believe the rest of what Peter said, “. . . but what I have I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (6). Walk? Walk? All I wanted was some money, and you say you will make me walk! How often do we ask for and expect too little from God? How often are we disappointed when God seems not to answer our small requests as he works in us to do something bigger than we can hope or imagine?

Peter offered healing not in his own name but in the powerful name of Jesus. There is a connection here to the miracle of Jesus who also made a lame man walk in Lk 5:17-26. When Jesus healed the paralytic, he spoke in no one else’s name but on his own authority. Jesus said, “Friend your sins are forgiven” and the lame man walked (Lk 5:20). We must remember that our first priority is spiritual healing. However, we must not neglect our duty to bring physical healing in Jesus’ name.

I believe in miracles. Do you? Jesus still works miracles as part of his plan and purpose in this world. Some miracles are bold, like this one, and some are more quiet and behind the scenes. The power of Jesus was and is still at work in the world through his disciples today. Peter extended a hand of help to lift up the man about to be healed by the power of Jesus. We must see those in need that God places in our path each day. We must extend a hand to offer the power of Jesus’ name to them as God leads us. It is not always easy to know how best to help, but we trust God to lead us to do his will. As Peter extended a hand of help, the lame beggar’s feet and ankles were miraculously strengthened by the power of Jesus’ name. We often seek the miracle of physical healing while neglecting the importance of spiritual healing. The physical miracle was not as important as the response of the beggar and those around him to the spiritual healing power in the name of Jesus.

The Response (8-10)

The beggar’s response was to go into the temple courts, “. . . walking, jumping, and praising God.” This was a place he had never been before. He couldn’t go there not only because he couldn’t walk but primarily because he was not welcome due to his infirmity (cf., Lv 21:17-20). He received not only physical healing but also spiritual healing and a place in the community of faith. He was filled with joy and “praised” (Gk., hallomai) God just as Isaiah prophesied would happen when Messiah came. “Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy . . . Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa 35:6,10c). He was evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, since his name still brought healing into the world.

The response of the people was to be filled with “wonder and amazement” (10). This was the same reaction the people had to the miracles of Jesus (cf., Lk 4:36, 5:9; 5:26; 7:16). The effect of the power of Jesus’ name on this lame beggar impacted those who recognized him and saw him rejoicing in the temple courts as a whole, healed man. As on the Day of Pentecost, Peter took the opening provided by the miracle to preach the gospel to those who would listen (Ac 3:11-26). “…many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about 5,000” (Ac 4:4). Physical healing was not the main event. Preaching the good news was the main event. The physical miracle drew the crowd and authenticated the message that brought spiritual healing.

What is your response to this story? How will you act on these Acts? Like Peter and John we should walk in the power of Jesus’ name and keep our spiritual eyes and ears open for opportunities to offer salvation and healing in that name. What opportunities do we miss by simply passing by without seeing? What miracles do we miss by not asking God or by expecting too little of God? Like the beggar, we should receive the gift of God in faith and praise the Lord! Like him, none of us were welcome in the presence of God because we were separated from him by our spiritual lameness, our sin. Like him, it was only when we were spiritually healed by accepting the power of Jesus into our lives personally that we could enter into his presence. Let us give praise and glory to God!

Believe that the name of Jesus continues to have power in the world. Ordinary days can become extraordinary days as we walk in the power of Jesus’ name. Do you believe in the power Jesus’ name? Are you walking daily in the power of his name? “. . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Ph 2:10-11).

Blog for Week of July 2, 2017

The Fellowship

Acts 2:42-47

Parents are essential to the growth and development of their children. Schools, churches, and society have parts to play in growing children into healthy adults, but no one has more responsibility in this process than the child’s parents. We should each be thankful for the parent—a mother, father, grandmother, or other significant adult—who loved, taught, corrected, fed, and guided us through childhood. We give thanks to those who instilled in us the essential elements for living life. Parents help a child grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. Parents ensure a child grows mentally through appropriate education and experiences. Parents ensure a child grows physically through food, exercise, medical care, and rest. Parents ensure a child grows spiritually in relationship with God by training/example. Parents ensure a child grows socially by learning and showing respect for and care of others at home, school, and in the world. Parenting is a big and important job.

In our journey through the Book of Acts, we are at the end of Acts 2. The day of Pentecost has come to a close.  Peter has preached a Holy Spirit empowered sermon, and about 3,000 individuals have come to faith in Jesus Christ (cf., Acts 2:41). The infant church is growing! The church grew from its foundation of one, Jesus, to twelve disciples (cf., Lk 6:13), to seventy disciples (cf., Lk 10:1), to more than 500 (cf., 1 Cor 15:6), and then to more than 3,000. Like a good parent/mother, the Holy Spirit helped the church to grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47 NIV).

Essential Elements for the Growth in the Early Church (42-47)

Acts 2:42 contains four essential elements critical for the growth of the infant church. The text says, that the early believers “devoted” (Gk., proskartepountes = hold out; persevere; persist over time; remain faithful over time-continuing action) themselves with disciplined, consistent, enthusiastic spiritual intensity to four things.

Mental Growth – They devoted themselves to “the apostles’ teaching” (Gk., didaske ton apostolon). They had the Twelve who passed on Jesus’ teaching. They also had the Holy Spirit who opened their minds (cf., Lk 24:45) and guided them into all truth (cf., Jn 15:13ff). They grew in more than just head knowledge. They took what they learned to heart and applied it.

Physical Growth – They devoted themselves to “the breaking of bread” (Gk., klasei artou). This is I believe evidence that the first church was a Baptist church—they loved to eat! (LOL) After worship it was common for Jewish families to share communal meals, and Christians continued this practice, which we still do today. But the meal they shared was more than just physical sustenance. It was also spiritual sustenance as they added the Love Feast, what we call the Lord’s Supper, at end of their meal.

Spiritual Growth – They devoted themselves to “prayer” (Gk., proeuchais). The disciples had seen Jesus go apart often to pray on the mountain and in Gethsemane. They learned as he taught them the model prayer. They knew the importance and power of prayer, and after Jesus’ ascension, they “joined together constantly in prayer . . .” (Acts 1:14). In fact, it was as they were together in prayer that the Holy Spirit came upon them on the Day of Pentecost (cf., Acts 2:1).

Social Growth – They devoted themselves to “fellowship” (Gk., koinonia). This essential element appears second in the list in Acts 2:42, but I saved it for last because I believe that it naturally results when the other elements are practiced properly and consistently. The word “fellowship” or koinonia is a special word in our Christian vocabulary. To the early Greeks this word described the fellowship between a man and a god. Eventually it was used to describe the bond between human beings in “the fellowship of life.” Jesus brought a radical new understanding of both the fellowship of individual humans with God and the fellowship of human beings together as members of the body of Christ. This word in the church came to express the special unity that occurs when believers share with others both the powerful filling of the Holy Spirit and the life of faith in community.

Many times we have a special wall or doorframe where we mark the growth of our children’s heights. The remaining verses of today’s passage give evidence of the growth of the early church as believers devoted themselves to the essential elements of teaching, breaking bread, prayer, and fellowship. Practice of these four essential elements by believers was key to growth in the early church. There was awe in the surrounding community at what God was doing in the church (43). There was a strong bond of unity among believers (44-45,47). They gathered mentally, physically, spiritually, socially as a unit—the body of Christ. They gave personal resources to meet needs of others even when it was personally costly. They shared both food and spiritual fellowship with thankfulness to God. There was intentional focus on daily worship and shared ministry (46). As believers paid attention to their growth by following the Spirit in the essentials, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The end result was kingdom fruit to the glory of God.

Essential Elements for Growth in Our Churches Today (43-47)

By definition what is not growing and renewing is dead. Just because we are adults, does not mean that our need for mental, physical, spiritual, and social growth is complete. We may be mature adults, but there is always more to learn, to do, and to be. And so it is with the adult church today. We still need the essentials, if we want to continue to grow.

We must grow as we study the Bible each week in Sunday school and other study opportunities. We have a critical responsibility to pass on the faith we have received to new believers, to the next generation.

We must grow as we share meals and other resources with those who need them through our Food Pantry, special offerings, like One Great Hour of Sharing, fellowship dinners, and especially the Lord’s Supper.

We must grow as we pray publicly and individually. We publish our prayer list not just for Sunday but to guide our prayers each day of the week. Prayer links us to the ultimate power source, God! We pray for and with each other in the hard times and the good times. We intercede in behalf of the needs of our world. We pray for the gospel to be boldly proclaimed in both our words and our examples. We pray for each other to have spiritual strength, deeper experiences of the love of Christ, and the constant filling of the Holy Spirit.

We must grow together in koinonia fellowship as we study, share, and pray in the special bond we have with each other through Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit within us.

Give thanks for your earthly parents who helped you to grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. Give thanks today for your heavenly parent, the Holy Spirit, who helps you grow both individually and corporately as a member of his body, the church. Look at your growth as a member of the body of Christ. Are you growing? If not, why not? What areas of growth have you neglected or overlooked? How will you commit to continue to grow? Pray to your heavenly parent to help and guide you as you continue to grow to his glory.  Your life and the life of this church depend on our growth together in the Spirit.