Don't Give Up
Acts: New Normal • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsSeries through the book of Acts. One lesson per chapter.
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Don’t Give Up
Brethren, it’s been a long six months. 2020 has been so long these six months seem more like six years. But, I want to remind you 2020 is not over yet.
The next few weeks, maybe months, will be difficult for our church and for our nation. I may have something more to say about some difficulties facing our nation in the next couple of weeks, but what concerns me much more than the election is the spiritual and physical health of the church at Chickamauga.
From a physical standpoint, we are entering flu season in the midst of a pandemic. Our next step moving forward is not clear. We need to pray to the Lord for wisdom in this up and coming season of new challenges.
From a spiritual standpoint, I do not exactly known what to say. While I try to tell myself these are not normal circumstances, I have to admit I am concerned and at times discouraged. May God have mercy on us all.
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When Barnabas came to Antioch, he witnessed the grace of God firsthand. He saw great revival taking place in a godless, corrupt, and pagan city. He saw God at work in ways he’d never imagined. We may expect him to have a message on what these new Christians should believe, how they should behave, and what they should avoid. Barnabas’ message for this young, multicultural, and thriving church was “remain true to the Lord with all your heart” (11:22-23).
Throughout the book of Acts we find brethren being encouraged to keep on keeping on. In Acts 13:43, Paul and Barnabas persuaded believers to “continue in the grace of God.” In Acts 14:22, Paul and Barnabas went back to churches they established to “strengthen the souls of the disciples,” and “exhort them to continue in the faith,” saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Why is it that we need to be encouraged from time to time to remain true to the Lord?
Why is it we need to be encouraged to keep on keeping on?
Why is it we need to be repeatedly told to put God first in our hearts?
I could probably list several reasons, but if I had to boil it down to just one I would say it’s because other gods desire our loyalty.
I find it interesting that when Barnabas came to Antioch nothing needed to be corrected. I mean, it’s a young, urban, large, and diverse congregation and yet they receive no rebuke. Why?
Barnabas knew people needed to be encouraged to “remain faithful to the Lord with devoted hearts” because their devotion to the Lord would be enticed by other masters.
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You want to know why religion has been on the decline in America for the past several decades? It’s because many have been worshipping false gods. The world seemingly has so much to offer.
People are worshipping
the god of foodthe god of pleasurethe god of entertainmentthe god of successthe god of moneythe god of childrenthe god of me
We have all of these things that promise to fulfill our needs and desires. While not wrong in and of themselves, they become wrong when we they come before God.
God wants to dwell in our hearts. In order to do so, we must make room for Him.
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Antioch was a large, cosmopolitan, and corrupt city (the third largest with a population of half a million people). It was the only city in the world at the time that had marble streets equipped with streetlights. It had all the entertainment you wanted whether it be going to the theater, sports games, or even to the circus.
Barnabas knew these things would eventually compete for the hearts of these new Christians.
Maybe he was aware of the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount?
Matthew 6:19–21 (NKJV) — 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) — 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) — 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Maybe he was aware of the teaching of Jesus in the Parable of the Soils?
Luke 8:14 (NKJV) — “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”
Maybe he was aware of the teaching of Peter?
1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) — 8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Over the past few months, COVID-19 has sifted us as wheat. The grace of God has been upon us, but Satan has also been at work attempting to steal us back from God.
He’s been telling us to go out to eat (the god of food), go to work (the god of money), go to the ballgames (the god of entertainment), go out and have some fun (the god of me), but don’t go back to church.
Why? Because church is not essential. No, you need to stay away from your brethren. You need to stop praising God in song. You’re good right now. You get a free pass to do whatever is best for YOU. You just do what’s best for YOU.
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At one time, not too long ago, the kingdom of God was sought first in the lives of God’s people. Interest in the kingdom of God has declined drastically in the past 30 years in America.
Even though modern technologies have made our buildings more comfortable and travel more convenient, it is quite difficult to get people interested in spiritual functions in the present age.
Could it be we’ve not turned to God with our “whole heart”?
Could it be we have idols we need to give up and kneel at the cross?
Could it be our love for Christ has grown weak and we’ve failed to turn our thoughts to Gethsemane?
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We now turn our thoughts to Gethsemane.
The Lord’s Supper is a sacred time for Christians. One aspect of the Lord’s Supper is that It is a time of self-examination.
May I encourage you to look inward at your heart. If you have idols in your heart ask God to remove them. Repent. Submit. Make the commitment in your own personal way to devote your heart to God and remain faithful to His cause.