Wholehearted

Wholehearted

Acts 4:33-5:16

Do motives matter? I think most of us would agree they do. Besides, no matter how well false motives are hidden, sooner or later they will come to light.

• Series- Mission, Sent to Speak & Respond to God’s Work of Redemption
• First section of Acts we see Christians with a focus to their local context.
• Mission to the Neighborhood

One of the best ways to truly be on Mission is to be wholehearted. To loose falsehood and be sincere. To actually live what we believe. To connect life to belief, our response to our words.. and to be 100% totally and completely sold out for Jesus.

• Address non-Christians, an inside look.

David Hume, a well known Scottish philosopher and historian in the 18th Century, who was also a Deist, didn’t believe in any inspiration or revelation or the Son of God or in the Bible, but reportedly thought it worthwhile to travel 20 miles to hear Whitefield preach. About five o’clock one morning, he was going down the street in London. He came around the corner and went straight into the hands of another man who said,  “Why aren’t you David Hume?”  “Yes.”  “Where are you going at this early hour ?”   “I’m going to hear George Whitefield preach,” replied Hume.  “You don’t believe a word Whitefield preaches,” said the man.“No,” Hume answered, “but he does!” 

Our main point this morning is this, “Be wholehearted”.   

The author of what I am about to read is unknown, but it is believed to be a young pastor in Zimbabwe who was martyred, or killed for his faith in Jesus Christ. It was found in his study:

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made — I’m a disciple of his. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.”

“I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.”

“My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifices, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.”

“I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing me … my banner will be clear.”

This is what it looks like to “be wholehearted”. Can you imagine if our church was full people that actually lived like this???

• Being on Mission to our neighborhood would be a bi-product of our life and our city would be turned upside down!
• Remember, 11 men lived like this, and it spread to 120, to 3000, to many thousands…

This is what we see in our scripture this morning.

The disciples were

•  Vs. 4:32  One heart and soul
  • Led to a deep generosity… Why? 
    • Prescription vs. description 

Slide- that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Cor. 12:25-27

•  vs. 33 Great power and great grace
  • Life matched words / walked what they talked. Sold out the whole route. I truly believe that when we actually live the very things we believe, miracles happen!
• 3. vs. 36, introduced to a specific man. Joseph, who is called Barnabas, Son of encouragement. We will learn much of this man.
  • Luke has a way of inducing people early who play a major role later in the scriptures. Just know he lives up to his nickname!
• 5:1– BUT…  there is such a distinct contrast here between an affluent man; giving, sacrificing, encouraging. And then theres a but… A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira.
  • I know between the 2 who I want to be, BUT, if we are honest… if motives come into play? If our we really examine ourselves… who am I, who are you in this story?

Kent Hughes in his commentary of this passage tells how, “Dr. Barnhouse, on the basis of this text, would never let his congregation sing the third stanza of ‘At Calvary’ which says ‘now I have given Jesus everything: now I gladly own him as my King.’ He says this…

SLIDE- “You see, if God acted the same way today that he did in the fifth chapter of Acts, you’d have to have a morgue in the basement of every church and a mortician on the pastoral staff.” Dr. Barnhouse

Hughes goes on to say, “The truth is, we would not have a pastoral staff either.”

• Vs. 3-4 – Satan attacked. Persecution wasn’t working so he began work from within and “filled his heart”
  • Didn’t have to give, they wanted to look good, so they tried to deceived the church. 

SLide- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

• In Ephesian 4 it says “Do not give the devil a foothold”
• When you are “wholehearted”, there is not room for Satan.
• But Ananias and his wife gave the devil a foothold and it cost them their lives.  They didn’t have to give the whole thing, but instead they faked it to look good. They lied to God. 

Do motives matter? They do. This should scare you. This should bring a heaviness to your sin.

• Repentance / Gospel / invite unbelievers

Make a step to be wholehearted!

• In your bulletins there is a blank piece of paper.
• Cast your burdens
• Repentance. (put paper in cross and then get communion)
• Pardon
• Communion is not for those who do not believe, but it is an invitation!

Sermon Slides