The Witness of the Local ChurchActs 4:1-37

As a local church pastor I always long to see our church members living up to the demands of the gospel of Christ. As such it means members must diligently fulfill local church duties. Our compliance with those obligations will enable Cornerstone to bring to fruition her unfinished businesses. There is great sadness in my heart, and much stress is created as well, when people of God fail to live up to the demands both of the gospel of Christ and that of the goals of Cornerstone.

As Paul said to the Ephesians in 5:3b, “...let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints…” There are matters we should never allow to occur as the witness of Cornerstone will be at stake. Specific actions must be done to prevent the occurrence of such witness-destroying events. When local church people are disunited, it will ruin their witness as God’s instruments. If they are uncommitted to the divine expectations and organizational goals then they shall be a hypocritical institution. When fear creeps in the hearts of its people, as critics mount intense attacks, then the devil laughs at them while the Savior grieves. These events are destructive of the local church witness.

Let me inspire everyone to the scriptural illustration on how a church strengthens her witness in the midst of fear-sowing society and critics. Consider the history of Jerusalem church in the first century, how she managed to intensify her witness while the criticizing world raged in anger against her. Look at Acts 4:1-37. As the Jerusalem church grew in great numbers (they reached more than 5,000 numbers already, v.4), the critics were worried about their increasing zeal and influence (vv. 2-3). Consequently, the critics launched attacks aimed at weakening their strength. In verse 13 they undermined their competence. In verses 15 and 18 they ordered the Christian leaders to cease from their ministry. In verse 17 they decided to threaten them. In this witness-damaging situation, how did the church respond?

First, they engaged in prayers to face the threat (vv.24-30). The leaders shared the critics’ attitude towards the church and indirectly agreed to assemble for prayers. In prayer they brought the matter before the sovereign Lord. Notice the content of their prayers in verses 25-26, these are paraphrased quotes from Psalm 2. This psalm is the psalmist’s response to the Lord while in distress. The psalmist called and rested upon the sovereignty of the Lord in that situation. Indirectly, they learned how to use OT scriptures for their situation’s need. Should we not likewise do the same?

Regardless of the environment’s intense negative dealings with the church we can still be victorious over them by similarly learning from this narrative. We must engage in diligent prayers for every need we face. We must plead before God for the monies we need to sustain our missionaries. We can also rely upon the generous Father to transform stones into precious jewels as His provisions for the work of the Lord. We can beg God to thwart the accusing people around us desiring only the fall of His servants and His people. If we fail to trust Him and labor in prayers then we become disheartened people unable to sustain our witness.

Second, they asked God for boldness to face the threat (v. 29). The early church realized that without God’s grace of boldness they could not stand up to this threat. This humble urgent request was divinely granted in verse 31b. By this attitude they nullified the humanistic tendency to rely on earthly and worldly resources. What do I mean by this? We tend to depend on our human contacts to bail us out of the mess we face in life. We are prone also to use money in overcoming such a situation. So others engage in bribery. We may also invoke our religious right or freedom to insulate us from such criticisms. However, the Jerusalem church taught us here to rely on God’s grace of boldness endowed upon our spirit. Why did they ask for boldness? Clearly they desired only to speak the words of God. They did not do any retaliatory action except to beg God for protection.

As God blesses us with resources for the ministry, let us be warned not to rely upon such earthly gains to make us victorious in the battle. Definitely, we will use every God given asset to advance His work with faith in God who controls the process. Let us learn also from the experience of Elijah who obeyed God to Zarepath even if it was illogical to be sustained by a widow in time of drought and famine. Our witness as a local church is under question when we shrink from our duties due to fear. We fear to serve Him in the full-time ministry because of fear of financial insufficiency or poverty. We fear to move to the right doctrinal position because of possible loss of ministerial network. Others could not overcome their pride. We shrink from zealous evangelism and discipleship as fear of rejection creeps. Some men withdrew from the ministry due to fear of rebellion from the people or the latter’s insensitivity towards the minister. We hesitate to financially get involved in church ministry as we see its least financial returns or it has no return at all.

Parents discourage children to engage in ministry as they are worried of their future. A relative seems less satisfied over my daughter’s interest to pursue a music career in the church ministry. Preachers tend to go to the States for a better life and ministry while the great cities and provinces of our nation are in dire need of mission workers. In all these cases, we need God’s grace of boldness.

Third, they united together to face the threat (vv.32-37). The church decided to become knit in dealing with the circumstance at hand. Their mind and spirit were together (v. 32a). They voluntarily gave a portion of their individual assets into a common ownership (v. 32b). Notice that they were not coached by the church leaders. This was a pure Spirit work in the people’s lives (v. 31). Thus, verses 34, 35, and 37 are consequential evidences of such great unity among the Jerusalem church members. Every need was well addressed. They did not construct a socialized system of economic leveling. They were faced with such great needs that out of their brotherly concern they volunteered to be a blessing to the brethren. What they did here is echoed by Paul in Gal. 6:10.

As a local church we must maintain our current strength in unity. Let us act as caretaker in every area of ministry where God has placed us to shepherd every person under our care towards contributing to the intensification of our church unity. For by this we shall together defeat the critics’ attacks to stop the fulfillment of the goals of Cornerstone.

When does a church lose her witness in this society? One, when its members have less concern for the welfare of fellow members in every area of human life. Two, such predicament exists when members see themselves only as associational and professional assembly. Three, when members fear the repeat of wrong practice thus leading them to inaction. Four, when people of God are self-centered and insensitive to the demands and needs of the church ministry. This last was addressed by the prophet Haggai in his book.

The local church can not ask the world to grant her cessation in opposing her at all fronts. But she can strengthen her witness before this world so the latter may be silenced by her illogical and invalid criticism. Let us continue on in the ministry of prayer both in private and in public. Cease not to pray for the pastor, his family, his ministries, the deacons and their families, the missionaries, the staff, the Sunday school teachers, the Samuels, the financiers, the partners abroad, and every leader and member. Beg the Lord to grant them boldness to speak the word, to lead us to higher grounds of growth, and to conquer territories for the church. Join the increasing unity in this local church by word and by deed. Lead other weak members to get involved in the growing unity. Paul spoke of assured victory we shall have in 1 Corinthians 15:57. Amen!