“IT’S TIME TO MOVE!”
Acts 4: 31-31; 1 Corinthians 2: 14-3:5; 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
Pastor Steve N. Wagers
1.
In the Greek Islands, one can seek out the home of Hippo crates, the father of modern medicine. In the area, one can also find an olive tree, supposedly dating from his time. If this were so, this tree would then be some 2400 years old. The trunk of this tree is very large but completely hollow. The tree is little more than thick bark. There are a few long, straggling branches, but they are supported by sturdy wooden poles every few feet. It has an occasional leaf here and there and might produce a few olives each year.2. In the fields around, however, are olive groves in many directions. The strong, healthy, young trees with narrow trunks are covered with a thick canopy of leaves, under which masses of olives can be found each year. The tree of Hippo crates can still be called an olive by nature, in that it still shows the essential unique characteristics, but it has long since ceased to fulfill an olive's function. Tourists file up to inspect this ancient relic, having some link to a dim history, but the job of the olive tree passed long ago to many successions of replanted trees.
3. Sad to say, there are many churches (or even people) like the tree of Hippo crates? The form is there, but the function is not. They have stopped reproducing and are satisfied just to exist, or have a noble history.
4.
I think about one man who was answering questions for a national poll. He was asked about his church preference, and he answered, “Red Brick.” Obviously, he was a member of something that was moving.5. I think of some interesting and startling statistics, given by research expert George Barna. These are statistics of church members of mainline churches:
6. According to the U. S. Department of Commerce:
7. I submit unto you that, spiritually speaking; it’s time to move. It is high time that our belief becomes our behavior, and our faith becomes our focus. If God is whom we say, and believe He is; then, it is time for us to sing, to serve, to share, and to shout with every fiber of our being. Simply put, it’s time to move.
8. I want to take a little different approach to my normal preaching style tonight. Normally, I take an expository approach to preaching. That is, we look at a particular verse, or passage, and develop the thought from within the confines of that passage. However, I want us to examine 3 different passages of Scripture and notice how we are admonished to the truth that it’s time for us to move. We are told from these 3 passages, that:
1. It’s Time For The Spirit Of God To Move In!
1. Look with me at Acts 4. The story is told of how on one occasion Jesus found a man sitting on the steps of a church. He was sitting there with his head between his knees with a dejected look on his face. Jesus asked him, "What's wrong? Why are you so sad?" The man replied, "I tried to get in this church but they wouldn't let me in." Jesus said to him, "Don't feel bad, I've been trying to get in there for 20 years."
3. I say that it is high time for Jesus, and the Spirit of God to move into Lydia Baptist Church. It’s time that He takes over the order, the organization, and the operation of everything that takes place. In fact, we’re told from this passage, that when the Spirit of God moves it will be the result of 3 things. One, there will be:
A. A Searching People!
1. {Notice Acts 4: 31.}
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together
2. Here is a group who was hungry and searching for the Spirit of God. They were a scriptually excited people. They were a spiritually expecting people. They knew how to pray, and they knew what to pray. They prayed down the Spirit of God.
3. I submit unto you that one thing that is lacking in the average church is a people that will ‘hunger and thirst after righteousness’. We have an abundance of programs, but we have an absence of passion.
4. We know how to sing well, organize well, plan well, preach well, and eat well; but, we have the lost the art of seeking God well. We have lost the art of being hungry, and searching to see God work in our midst. However, the passage not only indicates a searching people; but:
b. A Stirring Presence!
1. Notice the text again. In verse 31, we’re told that a searching people found a stirring presence.
and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
2. They knew what they needed. They knew what their church was lacking. They knew that the secret was found in His presence. It was not enough to have programs, parties, and politics. They must have a presence; the stirring presence of the Spirit of God.
3. R. T. Kendall, in his book on Jonah, made a very profound, almost prophetic statement, when he said,
“If the Holy Spirit were completely withdrawn from the average church today, the work of that church would go right on as though nothing ever happened!”1
4. I believe George Truett, the long-time pastor of First Baptist, Dallas, was exactly right when he said,
“There are two great tragedies in the church today: the Spirit of God is there, and people do not realize it. And, the Spirit of God is not there, and people do not realize it.”
5.
I remember reading of years ago when a group of ministers were planning a united evangelistic crusade. They met to select an evangelist. The majority wanted D. L. Moody, and evangelist who was filled and anointed by the Spirit of God to preach His Word. One minister on the committee, however, was holding out for another evangelist. In exasperation, he said, “Moody, Moody, Moody. That is the only name you seem to know. Does Moody have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” One of the other wise ministers responded, and said, “No, but it seems that the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Moody!”6. The greatest compliment anyone could ever pay Lydia Baptist Church is not that we have the prettiest buildings, the best music, or the most dynamic preaching. It would be for them to say that the Spirit of God has a monopoly on our church. They know that God, through His Spirit, is at work here.
7. I have often said that the greatest advertisement for any church is the presence of God. When He shows up, you need not run an ad in the local paper, post it on a billboard, or put it on a church sign. When He shows up, and moves in, it will be noised abroad. He will stir things up. I call your attention to only the fact of a searching people, and a stirring presence; but,
C. A Sacred Purpose!
1. Notice what took place, in verse 32, after they were stirred by the presence of the Spirit of God.
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
2. They were a unified people. There is no mention of this group or that group. There is no indication that there was any cliques’ present in the fellowship. There is no illusion that there were any Big I’s, or little U’s. This was a place of complete and total unity.
3. Friend, the strength of any church rests in its unity. It will either be a place of disunity, or a place of His unity.
4. The Psalmist declared in Psalm 133: 1,
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
5. As believers, those of us who are saved; we are in the family of God by the same Grace, we are serving the same God, we have the same Goal, we are standing on the same Ground; and we are heading to the same Glory! Why would we not be able to be in harmony, fellowship, and unity one with another?
6. However, when the Spirit of God moves in it will be because a searching people desired a stirring presence to fulfill a sacred purpose. I call you attention not only to the fact that it’s time for the Spirit of God to move in; but:
2. It’s Time For The People of God to Move Up!
1. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 2. As Paul came to the church at Corinth he found a variety of things. From a spiritual standpoint, this was a church that no man would to send his resume to be considered for the position of pastor. It was a moral, ethical and spiritual mess.
2.
The noted Southern Baptist pastor, the late Dr. R. G. Lee, once preached a sermon from this passage of scripture. He didn’t pull any punches. He, as an old mountain preacher once said, ‘Let it rip!’ After the service, a lady whose feathers had been ruffled met him at the door, and said, ‘I didn’t appreciate that sermon one bit, Dr. Lee.” The wise pastor looked back and said, “The Devil didn’t either, so classify yourself!’3. In this passage, Paul is doing a bit of categorizing, clarifying, and classifying. He speaks of 3 different types of people, beginning with:
A. The Deceived Natural Man!
1. {Notice 1 Cor. 2: 14.}
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned.
2. Paul is speaking of the man who has never been born from above. He has never been saved. He has never been born again. He is a deceived, unbelieving natural man.
3. As a result, he has no apprehension for spiritual things; and, he has no appreciation for spiritual things. Spiritual things have no influence on him, no importance to him, and no interest for him.
4.
I remember a few years ago when the CB radio craze took hold. And, as you listened across those airwaves, many would ask the question, “Does anyone have their ears on?“ Well, the natural man doesn’t have his spiritual ears on. What we believe, worship, preach, and sing about, is nothing but foolishness to him.5. Many seek to condemn the natural man for living an ungodly life of drinking, swearing, carousing, lying, or stealing. But, the fact of the matter is that he is doing what he knows to do. He doesn’t have his spiritual ears on. Not only is there the deceived natural man, but Paul mentions:
B. The Desired Spiritual Man!
1. {Notice 1 Cor. 2: 15-16.} In contrast to the natural man, the spiritual man lives in a totally different state.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
2. The word “judgeth” literally means “to appraise.” It speaks of someone who has the ability to evaluate the things of God. He can develop them. He can discern them. He has been given the mind of Christ.
3. The spiritual man goes to the Word of the Lord to find the Lord of the Word. He goes to seek the will of God in regards to all areas of his life. However, I not only call your attention to the deceived natural man, and the desired spiritual man; but:
C. The Deformed Carnal Man!
1. {Notice 1 Cor. 3: 1-4.}
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it , neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
2. There have been many debates over exactly what type of person Paul is referring to here. Some say that he is speaking of a person who has never genuinely been saved. Others say that he is referring to someone who has been saved, but has never matured as a Christian. Personally, I see room for both arguments, but I tend to believe the latter; that he is speaking of a carnal Christian who has never grown up in the things of God.
3. This is a man who is a spiritual baby. He has yet to trade in his diapers for big-boy britches. The bottle is still feeding him, when he should have been weaned years ago.
4. I read a definition of a baby the other day that I thought was insightful.
“A baby is a digestive apparatus with a loud noise at one end and no responsibility at the other!”2
5. Having raised a baby, and recently moved from the diaper stage, I would agree with that definition. However, having pastored for a number of years now, I would also say that that definition also described a number of folks that I have had in my congregations
6. They have a lot of loud noise at one end, and absolutely no responsibility at the other. They come to church with their feelings on the shoulders, and then get out of church when their feelings get hurt. The pastor has to bottle feed them from the pulpit burp them on the way out the door; and, might even have to change their diaper before they leave.
7. They look for an excuse to get out rather than look for a reason to get in. They are immature. They are babies. They may have been saved for years, but their knowledge about the things of God could be put into a thimble. I say to you, tonight if you belong to the family of God, it’s time for His people to grow up, and move up. However, I call your attention to the last passage before us tonight. From it, we not only see that’s it’s time for the Spirit of God to move in, and the people of God to move up; but:
3. It’s Time For The Church of God To Move Out!
1. I call your attention to the text of 1 Thessalonians 1. Here Paul is speaking to a model church. He is speaking of, and to a group of people who exemplify what the church is supposed to be.
2. You will notice that in verse 7, Paul says,
7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
3. The word ‘ensamples’ that is used comes from the word we get our word ‘model’ from. It describes that which is a pattern for something else. This church was a model church. It was example, because they saw that it was time for the church to move out.
4. Sad to say, the church, today, has become everything but what it was intended to be. It has become a museum for the saints, rather than a hospital for the sinners. It has become a group of political organizers, rather than spiritual agonizers. It has become keepers of the aquarium, rather than fishers of men.
5. The church today is in retreat. It is not in the battle. The church has been given a message to preach, but it is not preaching it. And, the church has lost its authority because it is not preaching the message that God gave it to preach. As a result, the world is afraid, but the church is asleep. The world asks questions, but the church has no answers.
6. Paul outlines a church that would be a great model for our church, as well as any other church. It was a church that had moved out, because of 2 things. First, there was:
A. The Word That Satisfied Them!
1. {Notice 1 Thess. 1: 6.}
6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
2. The word ‘received’ that is used literally means, “to welcome.” It described welcoming a guest into your home. They eagerly received the word of God.
3. Here was a place where the preaching of the Word was not endured, it was enjoyed. It was not resented, it was received. It was depreciated, it was appreciated.
4. Friend, I say unto you, without any hesitation, or reservation whatsoever, the success of Lydia Baptist Church rests upon the power, the prominence, and the preaching of the Word of God. We need not look to anything, nor anyone else. It will get the job done.
5. God has put it into our hearts, and placed it into our hands, and we are to welcome, receive it, and enjoy it. It is not meant to hurt us, but to help us. It is not intended to crush us, but to complete us. It is not given to burden us, but to bless us. It is not obligated to suppress us, but to satisfy us. We not only see the word that satisfied them, but:
B. The Witness that Stirred Them!
1. {Notice 1 Thess. 1: 8.}
8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
2. They not only had the word that satisfied them, but they had a witness that stirred them. Word had spread of what was going on at the church of Thessalonica. It was not a secret. They were on fire for God and their county, country, and community knew it.
3. They were excited about what God had done for them, to them, in them, and through them, and thus, they couldn’t wait to share it. They couldn’t wait to tell everyone that they came into contact with of the good news of the gospel message.
4. I can imagine that they went to work telling people about Jesus. They went to the grocery store, ran into someone they knew, and began to tell them about what God was doing at the church. They went into their community, knocking door to door, telling people that there was a God, and a church that loved them, and wanted to reach them. They couldn’t keep it to themselves. They were stirred up, and they moved out.
5.
In the summer of 1972, a young couple named Jim and Carol Cymbala moved to Brooklyn. They had been coaxed by Carol’s father to move there, and take a struggling, undesirable church known as Brooklyn Tabernacle. It consisted of a shabby two-story building in the middle of a downtown block on Atlantic Avenue. The sanctuary could hold less than 200 people and the church didn’t need that much space anyway. The ceiling was low, the walls needed paint, the windows were dingy, and the bare wood floor hadn’t been sealed in years. However, there was no money for improvements. In fact, the offering their first Sunday was a whopping $85, which was given by 13 people. It seemed like a hopeless situation and one that could only survive if God broke through.6. It happened one Tuesday night. A special prayer meeting had been called to beckon God’s help and intervention. That first Tuesday night, fifteen people showed up. There was no program or agenda, Pastor Jim simply got up and led the people in a time of worship. However, out of that came extended prayer. It was then that God was beginning to do His mighty work. He was uniting the hearts of the people together. There was a great desire to wait on God’s presence. That atmosphere has continued from that Tuesday night until present.
7. As a result, today, Brooklyn Tabernacle consists of a congregation of more than 8,000 members. Their greatest service is their Tuesday night prayer service, where more than 10,000 have been in attendance. It is a place that has realized that God can take the least of the least and make something out of it. They have ministered to the hopeless, the helpless, and the homeless. They have reached out to the down and out, and the out and out. They have gone after the crackpots, the heroin addicts, the drunkards, and the AIDS victim. Pastor Cymbala summarized their church by saying,
“We are a Holy Ghost emergency room, where people in spiritual trauma can be rescued.”3
8. Their success rests on one thing: their willingness for the Spirit of God to move in, the people of God to move up; and, the church of God to move out.
9. I submit unto you that as great of a church as Brooklyn Tabernacle may be, they do not have a monopoly on being used of God. It is just as available to Lydia Baptist Church as it to any church who is willing to admit the fact that they are need of a overwhelming, overtaking, and overpowering visitation from the God of Heaven. As emphatically as I can say it, friend, it’s time for the Spirit of God to move in. It’s time for the people of God to move up. And, it’s time for the church of God to move out. Oh yes, it’s time to move.