Sermon • Growth in a Crisis • 2020-06-14

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Growth

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Matthew 6:28 KJV 1900
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Luke 2:52 KJV 1900
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
1 Peter 2:2 KJV 1900
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Parable of the sower… kind of depressing until the end
Luke 8:11–15 KJV 1900
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
How Much Growth?
Matthew 13:23 KJV 1900
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

3 Passages about Growth (IN CRISIS)

First

Acts 6:7 KJV 1900
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

What is the context?

Acts 6:1 KJV 1900
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Crisis • Racial Conflict • Political & Spiritual fight • Hebrews Hebrews vs Grecian Hebrews
Liberals politically, culturally, language PHARISEES
Grecians neglected • on Purpose?

No Good going to come from this or will there?

Acts 6:2–5 KJV 1900
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Verse 5 may contains a miracle..
When is the last time any elders ever heard this? 100%?
No elders? even better a general business meeting...
All greek names, not one Hebrew even though leadership was...
David, Saul, Benjamin...
Culture Plato Aristotle vs Prophets
Writing backwards Greek left to right Hebrews right to left
Saying pleased the multitude both sets of widows taken care of

GROWTH IN THE MIDST OF A RACIAL & CULTURAL CRISIS

Acts 6:7 KJV 1900
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Church grew not by ignoring the problem but by facing it and doing the right thing.

Second

Acts 12:24 KJV 1900
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Context?
Acts 12:1–5 KJV 1900
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
This is getting serious, dangerous
Herod is dangerous • Grandson of King killed all the babes of Bethelehem
I can’t stay with it...
too hard, difficult
Acts 12:6–17 KJV 1900
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Praying for Peter’s release - then did not believe it.
God answers prayers of those that Believe, sometimes if you don’t?

And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.

21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

This is Serious
James is dead
Peter barely escaped
The King is dead… dying in this fashion, who knows what will happen to us?
Too dangerous - I am outta here...
Acts 12:24 KJV 1900
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Gods Word Grows

Third

Acts 19:20 KJV 1900
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Paul is in Ephesus Preaching & Performing miracles
Acts 19:5 KJV 1900
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You cannot be taught wrong and baptized right...
Acts 19:11 KJV 1900
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
A
Acts 19:12–17 KJV 1900
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Acts 19:18–20 KJV 1900
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Censorship
Self Censorship • 1 Peter 1:13GIRD UP
Parental Censorship • Eph 6:4 BRING UP
Value of Censorship • 135 years worth of wages • SUM UP

Conclusion

A Church Crisis Acts 6 Word increased
A Powerful King Acts 12 Word of God grew and multiplied
A Children Problem A Culture Problem A Money Problem Acts 19 • So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed

Don’t say we cannot grow because of crisis - the early church grew and thrived - we should pray not for a lack of problems but for God’s help to overcome the trouble that will come out way • 1 Tim 3:12

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