OUR THANKSGIVING
1) This morning it was proposed that thanksgiving is an important part of the Christian life.
2) Tonight I want to consider the thanksgiving once again, but deal with it form a different angle.
3) Our lesson starts with Acts 8:3.
a) At the close of Acts 7 Saul endorsed the persecution of a Christian named Stephen.
b) Acts 8 opens with Saul being even more involved in the persecution of Christians.
4) Here is Luke’s description of his efforts – verse 3 of Acts 8: READ.
5) Several key points emerge from this single verse.
a) First, the persecution involved “men and women.”
b) Earlier in the book of Acts there was persecution against the apostles.
c) Persecuting the apostles didn’t help so it seems the persecutors adopted a new strategy.
d) Instead of going after the leaders, those who hated the faith went after lesser known Christians.
e) This is also suggested by the reference to “every house.”
6) Christians had to assemble somewhere for worship and fellowship.
7) Since church buildings were not yet in existence, God’s people met in homes.
8) Perhaps the Christians who opened up their houses for worship are described in Acts 8:3.
9) Saul found Christians of both genders and took them prisoner.
a) His efforts are further described as “laying waste” or “making havoc” (KJV) with the people of God.
b) These expressions are from a single term that occurs only here in the New Testament.
c) Greeks used this word to describe the activities of untamed beasts like wild boars, lions, leopards, etc.
d) Wild animals are creatures that tear, mangle, and destroy.
10) By using this term Luke pictures Christians being mangled.
11) Families were being ripped apart by persecution.
12) This is why the fourth verse begins with therefore (KJV) or “they therefore” (ASV).
13) Christians had to run because the level of hostility was extremely high.
14) Another incentive for Christians to flee from their homes is found in the word “dragging.”
15) The KJV (this is in the middle of verse 3) says “haling,” an old English word for hauling.
a) This term is also found in Jn. 21:8.
b) There John spoke of fishermen who had a net full of fish.
c) Because it was impossible to carry such a net, it had to be drug.
d) Luke used this word because it graphically illustrated what was happening to Christians.
16) God’s people were being literally drug from their homes.
17) Imagine being dressed in a set of nightclothes and being sound asleep.
18) Sometime during the night our front door is busted open.
19) One or more men come in and drag us from our house.
20) If we are married, our mate is also drug away.
AT THIS CONGREGATION WE OFTEN HEAR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
a) These prayers are good and right because we are truly blessed.
b) There are a lot of problems others had to endure which we do not.
2) Because we do not face certain issues, it is easy to not think about them.
3) Tonight I want us to look at some of the hardships that have been endured by others.
4) The intent is to help us consider this question:
5) Would I still be a Christian if I had to face the kind of adversity borne by others?
6) Our first test is in Acts 8:3.
a) Suppose male and female Christians were being drug from their homes.
b) What if the church in Goshen were being ravaged by people who were like wild animals?
c) Would we remain faithful to God or would we abandon the faith?
d) What if we were called on to be faithful to the Lord or preserve our personal safety?
e) Which would we choose?
7) We can make this test a little more concrete by using the information in Acts 8:4.
8) Would we leave our home so we could continue to serve God as a Christian?
a) Would we move a great distance to remain faithful to God?
b) It is not uncommon to see people move.
c) Moves allow our to get a better job, schools, quality of life, being closer to family, etc.
d) Many are willing to better their lives.
e) What about moving to remain for a spiritual reason—being steadfast to the Lord?
9) My family used to be associated with a member of the church who had severe medical problems.
10) He could hear well and see well but the rest of his body was noticeably dysfunctional.
11) This brother was a faithful Christian who was really interested in the kingdom of God.
12) He was so interested that he waited until a house came for sale that was right next to the church building.
13) He then purchased that property so he could come to worship.
14) Like the people in Acts 8, he was willing to move for the sake of the gospel.
ANOTHER THOUGHT PROVOKING PASSAGE IS FOUND IN THE LIFE OF PAUL, 2 COR. 11:25.
a) For a time Paul (Saul) was able to persecute the church.
b) The day came when he stopped persecuting Christians and became one of the persecuted.
c) In addition to his having to face persecution, there were periods of personal hardship.
d) 2 Cor. 11:25 describes both opposition from others and personal difficulties.
2) 2 Cor. 11:25 – READ.
3) Because of Paul’s faith he was punished with “rods” and he was pelted with rocks.
4) What if we were asked to be punished for the Lord?
5) If being a Christian meant being stricken with rods or hit with rocks, what would we do?
6) Perhaps that is too hard to visualize because we lived in the United States.
7) Let’s therefore, put it other terms.
8) Suppose our punishment was a 60% cut in pay so we could remain faithful to God?
9) Is our commitment to the Lord strong enough to keep us faithful under this type of condition?
10) If yes, suppose the punishment were even worse.
11) What if our children were used as a wedge against us and our faith?
12) Would we reject the Lord to keep our children in our home?
13) These kinds of costs are certainly high, but do they not remind us of Mt. 16:25?
14) Jesus said we might be asked to make one of two choices:
15) We can try to “save our life” but this will create problems in eternity; we will lose eternal life.
16) Our second choice is “losing our life on earth” to gain life in eternity.
a) Punishment and persecution comes in many forms, and none of them are pleasant.
b) In each case, however, God tells us to stay faithful to the faith.
c) Towards the end of 2 Cor. 11:25 we read about Paul’s bad experiences on the seas.
d) Because Paul was a Christian he did some traveling.
e) Three times he was on a ship that sank.
17) Reading about this allows us to ask this question:
18) Are we also willing to sacrifice for Jesus and the church He built?
19) If so, is there a point in our life where we say, “no more”?
20) What if it were God’s will that we be poor, really poor?
21) During the last 100 years there have been men who achieved wealth and power.
22) Though these men arrived achieved a lot, they eventually lost all they had.
23) After losing their empire, they took a job for minimum wage.
24) If God required this of us would we still be obedient?
25) Jesus said in Mt. 8:20 that foxes have holes; birds have nest; He had no place to call home.
26) What if the Lord’s will in our life meant that we would have no permanent home.
27) Would we continue to follow Him?
28) 1 Cor. 4:9 reminds us that Paul was a “spectacle” to the world.
29) No sane person wants to be a spectacle.
a) Most do not like being laughed at, but this was part of God’s will for Paul’s life.
b) After conversion Paul was made fun of because of his religious convictions.
c) That still happens today.
d) We get hateful remarks from the denominational world plus people of the world.
e) Are we willing to be a spectacle to others?
30) Going back to 2 Cor. 11:27 (but not reading it) Paul said there were times when he was “cold.”
31) We are entering into a time of year when we get to experience cold weather.
32) What if we were called upon, for the sake of the Lord, to be without adequate clothing and heat?
33) We could have these things if we forsook the Lord but not have them if we remained faithful?
34) What would we do?
35) For many of us we will never face the kinds of persecution and affliction found in the New Testament.
a) Not having to deal with these matters is another great blessing.
b) We have numerous reasons to be thankful.
c) There are also several reasons to be faithful to God.
d) Compared to others who have lived, we get off pretty easy.
36) Each one here can go home to a house that has heat.
37) No one will break down our door tonight because of our religious faith.
38) If there has ever been a time when Christians should be grateful, it is now.
39) God wants us to be thankful.
40) The scriptures tell us about 10 men who had been cured of leprosy.
41) Only one man came back and expressed his appreciation.
42) Jesus said, “were not 9 cleansed? Where are they?”
43) Our thankfulness should be both positive and negative.
44) This morning the emphasis was on good things in the area of thankfulness.
45) Tonight we make a similar point but look at the matter from a negative standpoint.
46) We are grateful because of what we DO NOT face in life.
47) God has made abundant provisions in this country so we can live as a faithful Christian.
48) All things are ready; we simply need to respond.