The King's Church in Ilford
The following is the text of the talk given on 9th May 2010 by Georges Kisombola
"When Defence is the best Offence"
- Acts 4:1-12/I>
ACTS 4:1-12
It all began with the infectious smile, attitude, teachings, and lifestyle of one man. He walked on this earth just like you and me. For three years He taught and preached in temples and in the Streets of Jerusalem. Many followed him but only few were close enough to catch his vision. By the time he died only 12 men had bought into his mission. 50 days later the crowd had grown to 120. In one days time 3000 more were added. But you know there is trouble, when the text in Acts 4 verse 3 starts with Peter and John being hauled out of prison. The previous day started simple enough with Peter and John seeing the lame healed and then preaching in public about Jesus and how he had risen from the grave.
And 5000 more caught this fever that roared through Jerusalem as a result of this preaching. It was upon this occasion that the leaders got together and tried to find some way to stop the spreading of the newly dubbed HSB (Holy Spirit Baptism) virus. It spread from the villager's home to the ruler's palace. Nothing it seemed could stop the raging inferno of Holy Spirit power that had been unleashed upon the world. But there was more; Peter was also challenging the religious powers, right to their faces, right out in the open, no fear, nothing hidden, telling how THEY could find forgiveness through the very one whom they plotted and schemed to kill.
Imagine their dismay, they thought they got rid of another trouble maker, and they could therefore get onto more important business. They along with the Roman's leaders thought after crucifying Christ that they had got read of the head and fully expected that those who followed Jesus; these ordinary people would "go back to where they came from.
Lesson 1. When we follow Christ, We receive power and authority
The authorities were cunning for they had even ensured that guards were placed at the entrance to the tomb, so no one could take the body, and then later claim Jesus had risen. And yet, here were the people proclaiming that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, but more than this, they were doing it boldly, without hiding the shamefulness of the fact that their leader was crucified in such a terrible way.
And more than this, they were filled with outrageous boldness, "How dare these uneducated and ordinary people claim such authority!" We can hear the leaders' confusion, their dismay, and their anger.
Isn't that the way of the powers of this world? Instead of seeing something good in these followers of Jesus, they see danger. Instead of rejoicing in seeing a man healed, they reacted in fear by throwing the preachers in prison. Instead listening to the Good News preached by these ordinary people and perhaps hearing Jesus' offer of salvation through the grace of God, they saw opposition.
But most of these educated and wealthy Jewish leaders did not see or listen to what Peter and John were doing and saying. They were afraid. And when worldly power is threatened, look out, because first comes prison, next comes threats, and then comes execution.
In John 16:33 Jesus says "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the World you will have trouble, but take heart; I have overcome the world".
John and Peter had their back against the wall and probably this verse was ringing in their ear. The ordinary thing for them to do was to say: "We need to shut up so that we may be released and go home to see our families".
And yet, how strange it is that even after a night in prison, Peter and John won't play according to the world's rules. Here are all the rulers of Jerusalem, the elders, the scribes, Annas the high priest and even Caiaphas; all the powerful leaders are gathered to intimidate these two preachers and "put them in their place." The leaders have come together to show a strong presence, expecting Peter and John to beg to be let free and go running home like frightened dogs with their tails between their legs. In our litigious society, we are surrounded by messages that call us to be careful of what we say and do. Our world is zealous for self-preservation and playing games of power and influence. And the leaders are surprised by Peter and John's attitude. They ask:
"By what power or by what name did you heal the man?" They ask,
Lesson 2: be true witnesses of Jesus wherever you are no matter what.
These authorities were the most powerful men in their world. And whatever they said was done. The bible says that as Peter stood before these men he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter cease the time of defense to make the most offensive proclamation of the gospel. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and is prompted to cease the opportunity on this magnificent platform to proclaim the Gospel to the most powerful men on the planet. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are clothed with tremendous power to declare the gospel that changes lives.
So Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit says to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead". Peter is denying Christ no more. Peter in other words is saying Jesus whom you killed was, is and will be who He said he was. He is the son of God, He is the Messiah. Or again Peter was saying there is power in the name of Jesus. There is life in the name of Jesus. And Peter added:
Lesson 3. There is salvation in no one else
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, Peter added; it has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved." Last summer Robin preached on Salvation in Jesus alone. Jesus is the way indead. There is no other way to God but through Jesus Christ alone.
Those are strong words, bold words, challenging words. And the next verse shows how stunned the leaders are; "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition to them." Church I pray that we too will display our companionship with Jesus through our lives and our testimonies. That people will realize that we belong to Christ.
Here is the church at its core and at its best. Doing good, regardless of what the rulers and powers say. This has been the case for two thousand years. Friends, believe this:
Lesson 4. The Church is the answer to this broken world
About two hundred years after the birth of Jesus, Celius, a roman philosopher said, "These Christians are a backward people with silly ideas about Jesus rising from the dead. They come from bottom of society, uneducated, and foolish. However, one must admit that their generosity to the stranger and the widows puts our temples to shame. If anyone is in trouble, these people will take care of him."
For those called to be the church, in response to grace of Jesus Christ, we reach out to those whom others reject. Why? Because we know at the centre of our faith is one who was rejected. Jesus Christ, who was rejected has become our cornerstone. Even though we rejected Jesus, he did not reject us. That is Grace!
Here, in this account of Peter and John is the church at its core, and at its best; Making trouble regardless of what the rulers and powers say. You see, to say that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the King; that's the kind of political trouble that Rome did not want to hear. There was only one king and his name was Caesar.
Today there is trouble; holy trouble; because we worship Jesus our King who even at his most powerless moment on the cross became for us our salvation. Our first loyalty is to Jesus, and only secondly to any government, whatever form it may be. Our King has saved us, and therefore our loyalty is always first to Jesus. He …
Lesson 5: Jesus is our only Priest
Peter and John know that everything now is changed through Jesus. Their response is a direct challenge the temple system, the powers of the priests. Basically, he is saying, "You all are fired, not needed; Jesus is our salvation and the salvation of the world! It is through Jesus that we have been made right with God. Gone is the striving to be good enough for God, or smart enough or holy enough. We know through faith that salvation is a gift, and therefore in gratitude we shall be his people and learn his ways. And because in Him alone we can be saved, our…
Lesson 6. Faith is not Private matter
That is why for Christians, faith can never be just a private matter. The disciples had a very different perspective on faith than we find in many areas of the Christian world today. Faith was not something to hold and cherish out of convenience. Faith was not a matter of a private affair that affected only one segment of their lives. Faith was not something that gained expression only around a select group who held to common beliefs. Faith was not a personal treasure for personal benefit. For these disciples, faith was a question of sharing the transforming power of the gospel with those they encountered. It was accepting and living the authority which Jesus had granted them to be witnesses and ministers of grace to the whole of their community.
I sometimes wish we would get rid of all the walls on Churches so we could see the world which Jesus came to save, came to challenge, and came to rule with the power of His cross. And yet, walls or no walls, Jesus has us. A group of ordinary people, given power through the Holy Spirit to bring healing to the rejected, whoever and where ever they may be; a group to proclaim the truth and the way of Jesus Christ.
People like us, who can even challenge the way the world is and proclaim a new world, a new reality, a new kingdom where our lives are not ruled by the powers of death but the divine life of Jesus Christ.
Lesson 1. When we follow Chrits, We receive power and authority
Lesson 2. Our challenge today is to be true witnesses of Jesus wherever we are
Lesson 3. There is salvation in no one else
Lesson 4. The Church is the answer to this broken world
Lesson 5. Jesus is our only Priest
Lesson 6. Faith is not Private matter
Amen.
