Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19970824.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING MEN
Part VII: The Relational Priorities Of Those God Uses As His Effective Witnesses
(Acts 3:1-4:22)
  1. Introduction
    1. Being a witness for Christ is often seen as a challenge by believers. Many feel very self-conscious in even bringing up the facts of the Gospel, and feel guilty about feeling self-conscious, etc.
    2. However, those whom God uses as effective witnesses have a minimal focus on themselves, but they have a very Biblical set of priorities as Acts 3:1-4:4 reveals.
  2. The Relational Priorities Of Those God Uses As His Effective Witnesses, Acts 3:1-4:4.
    1. Those whom God uses as effective witnesses of the Gospel have their relationship with God a top priority.
      1. Just after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Early Christian Church enjoyed an enormous explosion of evangelism where people daily were coming to Christ, Acts 2:47.
      2. However, the Apostles Peter and John were not trying to focus on witnessing as a priority, but on their relationship to the Lord. In that capacity, God led them into the right contacts for effective witnessing:
        1. Peter had instituted the evangelistic movement by his great Acts 2 message, cf. Acts 2:38-41.
        2. As a result, a dynamic body life developed, and evangelism was rampant, Acts 2:42-47.
        3. However, Peter and John took time out to attend the hour of prayer during the afternoon daily sacrifice in the temple, Acts 2:47; 3:1 with Ryrie St. Bib.: KJV ftn. to Acts 3:1.
        4. Thus, though both were real spiritual "kingpins" in this evangelistic movement, they had made their own fellowship with the Lord a top priority. Note how the statement in Acts 6:2-4 bears this out.
        5. Accordingly, God opened the door for their contacts to an effective witness, cf. Col. 4:2-3.
    2. Those whom God uses as effective witnesses of the Gospel have the needs of others a secondary priority:
      1. While going up to the temple, Peter and John were confronted by the beggar at a temple gate, 3:2-3.
      2. Though not having any silver and gold to give to him, Peter and John did give him what they did have, a complete healing so that the man would no longer have to beg, Acts 3:4-7.
      3. This man's healing created his joyful public response, which, in the crowded area led to the gathering of the worship crowds who marveled at this man's healing, Acts 3:8-11.
      4. Concerned that these crowds understand that Christ's power had healed the man, and that they come to know Christ for eternal blessing, Peter used the opportunity to present the Gospel to them, 3:12-26.
      5. This action on their part brought on the wrath of the apostate religious temple rulers who immediately incarcerated Peter and John for preaching the resurrection of the dead, Acts 4:1-3.
      6. The next day, while being examined by the religious leaders for the previous day's actions, Peter and John felt compelled to reveal to these leaders the truth of the Gospel to explain why the lame man had been healed. They did so out of concern for the religious leaders and not for their own welfare, 4:4-12.
      7. The effect of all of this was further mass evangelism:
        1. With the initial sermon in the temple complex, 5,000 people believed and were saved, Acts 4:4.
        2. With Peter and John's explanation of the healing to the religious leaders, these leaders realized that the influence of Jesus had rubbed off on these men (Acts 4:13), that there was the evidence of their faith in the obvious healing of the lame man (Acts 4:14-16), and that they needed to be careful about punishing these men lest it lead to political complications before the general populace, Acts 4:17-22.
Lesson: Peter and John were effectively used as witnesses of the Gospel because (1) they made their walk with God a top priority, and (2) their concern for the eternal welfare of the lost about them another priority that (3) exceeded their own self -centered interests or welfares.

Application: Fear of witnessing, or self-consciousness in the process is handled by focusing (1) first on our relationship and fellowship with God, and our responsibilities in relation to Him, and (2) then on addressing the needs of other people ar ound us who are headed for a Christless, awful eternity without Him. (3) These are put ahead of self-centered concerns. With these focuses, one has a balanced, effective outlook that God can use for effective outreach, regardless of the response.