SERMON SUBJECT: THE CHURCH BREAKING SILENCE

SERMON TEXT: “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

SERMON THESIS: The church must no longer be silent.

INTRODUCTION: A wise man by the name of Solomon once wrote about “A time to be silent, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7b). Focusing on the latter, “...a time to speak,” concerning the church the time to speak is now. Never before in the history of Christianity, in my personal opinion, has the opportunity to speak in Jesus’ name, in light of the present circumstances, been greater than it is now. For too many years the church has been like a sleeping giant, but now the time has come for the church to break silence.

Threatened by the religious powers that be, Peter and John were warned to stop speaking in Jesus’ name. Moved by the Holy Spirit, however, they said, “ ... we cannot stop speaking what we have heard”(Acts 4:28). Concerning speaking in Jesus’ name, upon Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, making reference to His disciples, Jesus said ...

“And He answered and said, I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40)

“You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:48)

The prophets of old, likewise, could not be silent ...

“But if I say, I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name, Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.” (Jeremiah 20:9)

“A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?”(Amos 3:8)

My friends, I tell you, the church must break silence and cry out to the world who Jesus is, and what He came to do. Based on Acts 4:1ff., let’s consider this question: What happens when the church breaks silence?

First, when the church breaks silence there is ...

I. A GREAT DISTURBANCE - This great disturbance in Jerusalem, was nothing short of a holy war. The Bible says...

“And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” (Acts 4:1-2)

It was not until after the resurrection of Jesus that the church in Jerusalem broke silence. After the Holy Spirit had come upon them on the Day of Pentecost, they could no longer be silent. The disciples suddenly developed, what we might call, a holy boldness. That’s what we need today - a holy boldness.

The great disturbance referred to here in chapter four came as a result of Peter and John stopping to minister to a lame man who was in need of healing. They were on their way to the temple when confronted by this opportunity. Have you ever missed an opportunity to minister while on the way to church? At any rate, Peter and John found themselves in serious trouble with the religious leaders. Sometimes religious leaders can cause us the most problems. A lot of conflict takes place in the name of religion. Peter and John found themselves right smack-dab in the middle of this conflict in downtown Jerusalem. Now let’s consider what it was that caused this great disturbance ...

1. Teaching and Preaching in the name of Jesus. Teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus flew in the face of the Jewish population, and was a real threat to the status-quo of their day. Is it any different today? Preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus brings freedom to the enslaved who are willing to make a faith response, but basically, most people don’t want to be free. At one point in biblical history, some of the Israelites were ready to stone their leader, Moses, because he brought them out of Egypt.

In his book, Grace Awakening Chuck Swindoll writes about slaves in the south who would not take their freedom even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been passed. People today would rather remain enslaved to sin than to be liberated from sin through the power of Jesus’ name. Needless to say, Jesus is the only one who can free a person from sins bondage.

What Peter and John were experiencing, in Jerusalem, two-thousand years ago is not new. Modern day Sensor ship brought on by the ACLU and other anti-Christian groups is one of the greatest threats being hurled against evangelical Christianity. The removal of the Ten Commandments from schools and other public places; the removal of prayer from public schools, and the denial of Christian symbols, like the Nativity at Christmastime to be displayed in certain places, gives evidence of this very fact. In essence, the modern atheistic world is saying to Christians, “You can no longer speak in the name of Jesus!” One thing I admire about the Graham’s is this. Billy, Franklin, and Anne, are not afraid to speak the name of Jesus on national television.

My friend and companion, Jerry Fees, faced the threat of being silenced, where our witness for Jesus was concerned, on our first mission to the former Soviet Union ... The Russian Orthodox Church was a real determent to our witness ...

The opposition could not silence Peter and John. They continued to proclaim the gospel message even in the face of persecution and prison. They continued to preach and teach in the name of Jesus, in the face of opposition, and many believed. The Bible says ...

“But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” (Acts 4:4)

Praise God! What caused this great disturbance?

2. Preaching that declares that Jesus is the only way to be saved. Peter made no bones about it. He declared this truth...

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

If you want to cause a great disturbance, speak this biblical truth is some circles. Even among those who say Jesus is the only way to heaven will not agree with you that salvation is through Jesus plus nothing. Some will add water baptism. Others will add works ... I submit to you, my friends, that “religion” and “denominationalism” has done more to enslave people than anything else.

3. What will we do when told that we can no longer preach and teach in the name of Jesus? What did Peter and John do?

“And when they had summoned them, they commended them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)

They were willing to suffer the consequences of preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus. The Bible says ...

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

Talk about a great disturbance!

It was out of this great disturbance, once the church broke silence, that they experienced ...

II. GREAT POWER - Personally, I believe that this is what the church needs today. Great power that explodes out of a great disturbance. The Bible says ...

“And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.”(Acts 4:33)

1. What do we do when the world tries to silence us?

“And when they had summoned them, they commended them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.” 

(Acts 4:18-20)

2. Where does this great power come from?

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them.” (Acts 4:31-32)

Not only was there a great disturbance in downtown Jerusalem, and not only did the disciples witness with great power, they also experienced ...

III. ABUNDANT GRACE

      1. What kind of grace did they experience?

            -Grace, grace, God’s grace

            -Amazing Grace

           -Sustaining grace

           -Abundant grace

           -Grace for all who would receive it

           -Grace that would not let the church remain silent

CONCLUSION: God’s abundant grace is available to all who will receive it ...