Continuing steadfastly ~ Good to great in a culture of discipline ~ Prepared and presented by Abraham Sackey 31 October 2010
Sermon text Acts 2:42-47 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 2
Introduction ~ 1 Friends and relatives may say to you: You keep on going to Church, what good has it done to you? Or you may say to yourself What good has serving the Lord done to me? Indeed, some give God ultimatums Some give God a trial period and if things do not change in that time period they jump ship What has my being good done to me? The wicked are prospering whilst you are stuck or so it seems Our race is not a sprint race. It is a marathon. 3
Introduction ~ 2 We live in an age of quick fixes and instant answers Why wait till tomorrow what you can get today? Of course one does not consider the consequences or the costs of the quick fix God, please give me patience and I want it now is the prayer of the age Go for it. You deserve it, you have earned it Have you indeed? That Church started two years ago and now they are a mega-church and we are still small, why? Have you considered how and why they have become mega in a short space of time? At what cost have they suddenly become mega? 4
Subject in context Over the last six days we have dealt with: The Apostles doctrine Fellowship Breaking of bread Prayers and Fear came on all the people Today we will take a more in depth look at the subject of continuing steadfastly. Some versions of the bible render the phrase continuing steadfastly as being devoted We will realise that scripture has much to say on this subject than we have previously appreciated 5
Continue defined 4342 proskarterew proskartereo pros-kar-ter-eh -o AV-continue 4, continue instant 1, continue steadfastly 1, attend continually 1, give (one s) self continually 1, wait on 1, wait on continually 1; 10 1) to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one 2) to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing 3) to continue all the time in a place 4) to persevere and not to faint 5) to show one s self courageous for 6) to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly 6
But they did not continue Read Paul s letters to the Corinthians and to the Galatians, to mention but two and you will find that: Fellowship was compromised or broken Factions were formed And with factions came departure from the truth Is this not a warning for us not to become complacent in our believes and conduct? There are so many voices these days one has to be exceptionally careful to discern between what is truth and what is error Doctrine determines beliefs, beliefs determine conduct and conduct determines eternal destiny! 7
What is a culture of discipline? The concept of a culture of discipline is taken from the book Good to great by Jim Collins The book reports the findings of five years research carried out under the leadership of Jim Collins explore the inner workings of good to great The book is about why some companies make the leap from good to great and why others do not Jim Collins asserts that good is the enemy of great A culture of discipline is just one of the conclusions of the research. It is my firm conviction that this principle is nothing new nor is it peculiar to the business world 8
Why a culture of discipline? As a member of the leadership of this fellowship, it has been forcibly impressed upon my heart that we need to leave a godly legacy for our children, if not for posterity May you hear in the very depths of your being the rhyme "Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best." There is no time like the present to begin the move Now is the time to begin to inculcate a culture of discipline within every facet and aspect of our individual and corporate lives if we are to leave a legacy while serving the present age and posterity. The subject of a culture of discipline will be taken up in more depth the New Year 9
What is a great Christian or Church? John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. Fruits that remain long lasting, for the long haul Your distinctive impact can be on a local or small community, and your performance can be superior and long-lasting without becoming large. 10
A great organization is one that makes a distinctive impact and delivers superior performance over a long period of time. 11
Good to great? Our calling is dynamic and not static It is organic not mechanic It is a new and living way We need to feed our souls in the presence of the Almighty To continue steadfastly is to be planted in the courts of our God Then and only then will we be nourished, strengthened with might in the inner man and be what God has ordained us to be This is what moving from good to great is all about! Remember that good is the enemy of great 12
Continuing and discipline is an integral part of the culture of discipline life involves two paradoxes: 1. To stand fast immovable in your faith Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. (2 Thessalonians 2:15) 2. To keep moving making progress I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ (Philippians 3:14) 13
A warning on doctrinal error 1 Timothy 4:1 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, There is godly doctrine and there is demonic doctrine The doctrines of demons are seducing spirits out to deceive. Some will depart from the faith because: Satan appeals to their egos and inordinate self interest The going gets tough and they look for easy solutions 14
Do not turn from the truth Listen to the astonishment and bewilderment of the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:7 You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth? (The Living Bible) You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (New King James Version) You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? (New Living Translation) 15
Such strong words ~ 1 Galatians 1:6-9 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 16
Such strong words ~ 2 Wrong doctrine incurred such wrath from Paul It made no difference to him whether the doctrine came from man or angel; both were accursed And just so that no one was left in any doubt as to what he meant he repeats the curse Let him be accursed, anathema or to bind under a great curse that is the meaning of accursed Do we dare preach another gospel or doctrine in the face of such strong curses from the great apostle? 17
A warning on discontinuing fellowship Hebrews 10:23-25 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Fellowshipping is to exhort one another It is to stir up good works in each other We short change ourselves when we fail or refuse to fellowship 18
Definition of fellowship 2842 koinwnia koinonia koy-nohn-ee -ah AV-fellowship 12, communion 4, communication 1, distribution 1, contribution 1, to communicate 1; 20 1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse 1a) the share which one has in anything, participation 1b) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy 1b1) the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship ( in fulfilling the apostolic office) 1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship 19
A warning to pray without fainting Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 20
The need to continue steadfastly~1 There may be difficulties to be overcome There may be hurdles to be jumped There may be trails, temptations and periods of doubt There may be periods of great darkness when it would even appear that God has forsaken you. Listen to the Psalmist complain in Psalm 73:12 13, 17. 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. 21
The need to continue steadfastly~2 The consequences of not continuing steadfastly are: One would fall by the way side One would enter into error Growth will be stunted No fruits or little fruit will be borne One s usefulness will be greatly diminished There is no joy in haphazardness; none whatsoever To continue steadfastly is the only way of pleasing the Lord Jesus As the songwriter says The only way to be happy in Jesus is to trust and obey 22
The need to continue steadfastly~3 There is the need to continue steadfastly, on a day to day basis because one cannot store away as one would bank one s money - : Bible reading Fellowship Breaking of bread and Prayers I prayed and fellowshipped and read my word yesterday. I have enough in the bank. You need it fresh like the manna that was collected. Just enough for each day There is a freshness that comes from continuing daily in the presence of Almighty God. This is not punishment. This is joy unspeakable 23
Continue steadfastly - do not fear Revelation 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Have you heard of the fellowship of His suffering? Acts 2:42 and Philippians 3:10 have the same Greek word translated fellowship Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 24
Continue steadfastly - be confident Hebrews 10:35-39 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. To cast away is to discontinue just no good To draw back is to discontinue just no good either 25
Continue do not be discouraged Hebrews 12:1-3 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 26
Continue steadfastly keep on doing good Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 27
Conclusion As individuals and as a fellowship are we prepared to move from good to great? Then we must be prepared to continue steadfastly in these essential pillars of the apostles doctrine and fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. We must move beyond offering to the Lord just the minimum; that which costs us nothing. To move from good to great we must continue steadfastly within a culture of discipline the culture of the disciplines of Christ the Lord O that the fear of the Lord will come upon us in our homes, public meetings and all that we do. Amen! 28