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TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS PAGE, we offer this study out of love for you and love for God's Word and His truth, so...with an open heart, an open mind and an open Bible..."...search the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so..." (Acts 17:11) by Charlie Buckley Text: Luke 9:51-62 Introduction: A. This past week I have received numerous calls and emails concerning Nancy Grace and her guests’ statements concerning the church of Christ and its “cultish nature”. I heard anger in the voices of brothers and sisters in Christ, coming in defense of their Lord and the church purchased through His blood. B. It caused me to think of a passage in Luke 9:54-56, when Jesus made a statement to his disciples concerning those who would not receive Him or His teachings. “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did? He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” C. We must be careful in “contending for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude verse 3. We need to make sure that while we are living in the world we do not behave as the world, “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.” (I Timothy 3:15). D. This is not the first time the church has been spoken against, made fun of, persecuted, or been called a cult. Our actions of defense need to be worthy of the name we wear, (Ephesians 4:1-3). If we will take a moment and search the scriptures we will find out how Christ, His apostles and His church handled these problems in the first century. I. HOW JESUS HANDLED REJECTION (Luke 9:51-62) A. When asked if He wanted help in punishing and destroying those who rejected Him, he answered “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” B. When you heard of the church of Christ referred to as a cult: - 1. What spirit were you of? What was your reaction? - - a. Like the disciples seeking REVENGE (Romans 12:16-21). - - b. Like Christ seeking to RESCUE (Jude 20-25). I. HOW PETER REACTED TO MOCKERY ( Acts 2:1-47 ). A. On the Day of Pentecost, when the people in Jerusalem were amazed and perplexed about hearing the apostles speaking the wonderful works of God in their own language, there were two reactions from the crowd: - 1. Some wanted to hear more (2:12). - 2. Some started rumors. (2:13). B. What was Peter’s response? - 1. He preached the Gospel of Jesus to Both groups. (2:14-39). - 2. “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, be saved from this perverse generation.” C. Here is the spirit of a Christian defending his lord and the church against mockery. D. What spirit are you of? QUOTE WITH COMPASSION [Luke 9:55-56]. II. HOW PETER RESPONDED TO THOSE DISTURBED BY THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. (Acts 3:1-26). A. After the lame man was healed and went into the temple, walking, leaping and praising God, the Jews were moved with amazement and wonder. (Acts 3:9-11). B. What was Peter’s response? - 1. He preached unto them the gospel of Jesus (Acts 3:12-15). - 2. He called for their repentance and conversion (Acts 3:16-21). - 3. He testified and exhorted them with many other words explaining the mystery of Christ. C. Here is the spirit of a Christian defending his Lord and the church of Christ in the spirit of Christ. QUOTE WITH COMPASSIN Luke 9:55-56 III. HOW PETER AND JOHN RESPONDED TO THE THREATS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS. (Acts 4:1-7). A. When the religious leaders of that day were disturbed at the preaching and teaching of Peter and John, they had them arrested. The religious leaders held a “NEWS CONFERENCE” to ask “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7). B. What was Peter’s response? - 1. He preached unto them the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:8-13). - 2. And with many other words testified and exhorted them (Acts 4:14-22). - 3. After their release they gathered with their brethren in Christ and prayed for the Father’s wisdom, guidance and power “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word…” (Acts 4:29). C. Here is an example of Christians defending their Lord and His church in the spirit of Christ. QUOTE WITH COMPASSION [ Luke 9:55-56]. IV. HOW THE APOSTLES RESPONDED TO INDIGNATION! (ACTS 5:11-17). A. When the high priest and Sadducees were filled with jealousy over the people’s response to the gospel, they had the apostles locked up in prison. B. The apostles were commanded to “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” [Acts 5:20]. - 1. Acts 5:25 – they were found the next morning defending their Lord and the church of Christ in the spirit of Christ. - 2. Acts 5:29-32; 41-42 – and with many other words did they testify and exhort “daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” C. Here, again, we find Christians defending their Lord and His church in the spirit of Christ. QUOTE WITH COMPASSION [ Luke 9:55-56]. D. How do you fulfill the command to: - 1. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” Matt. 28:19-20 - 2. Jesus not only commands us what to teach, but how to teach: - - a. Colossians 4:6 – with grace - - b. I Peter 3:15 - with meekness and fear. - - c. Luke 9:55-56 – in the spirit of Christ seeking to RESCUE not seeking REVENGE. 3. QUOTE WITH COMPASSION [Luke 9:55-56]. V. HOW STEPHEN RESPONDED TO CULTISH REMARKS! [Acts 6:9-7:1] A. When it was rumored that Stephen was speaking “blasphemous words against Moses and God.”, and people were stirred up by false accusations and false witnesses, Stephen had an opportunity to come to the defense of the gospel of Christ and His church. B. What was Stephen’s response to these accusations? - 1. With many other words did Stephen testify and exhort them concerning the prophets and prophecy of Jesus. [Acts7:2-53.] - 2. He preached unto them Jesus [Acts 7:37]. C. How did Stephen respond to his accusers? - 1. Acts 7:51 – some think Stephen had a mean spirit? - 2. Acts 7:55-60 – I see a Christian defending the Lord Jesus Christ and his church in the spirit of Christ. - - a. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!...” Acts 7:51 - - b. I believe Stephen said this in the spirit of Christ as he was concerned for their well being…”Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” [Acts 7:60]. D. QUOTE WITH COMPASSION Luke 9:55-56 Conclusion: WHEN THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED WE CAN EXPECT THE SAME RESULTS AS THE FIRST CHURCH OF CENTURY: A. Those with Interest Acts 2:12 and/or Mockery Acts 2: 13. B. Those filled with Wonder and Amazement Acts 3:10-11 C. Those filled with Anger Acts 4:2-3 D. Those filled with Jealous Indignation Acts 5:17 E. Those who would spread rumors about Christ and his church Acts 6:11 F. Those who misunderstand the power of the gospel to turn the world upside down. G. We must be careful in our defense of the gospel of Christ that we come in the spirit of Christ and not in the spirit of the world. “When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’” Luke 9:55-56 |
