The Purpose and Cost of Discipleship
I was recently given the privilege of going to teach in Foochow in China. We were taken to see the home of Watchman Nee, one of the most influential Christians in China in the twentieth century. This bungalow had a smaller room at the back where he lived and studied but a large room where he welcomed guests. It is in this room that he would teach the Bible. Watchman Nee was born in 1903, and was a very bright student, coming top of his group throughout his education. When he was 17 years old he became a Christian and he then came to love the Bible. He never went to Bible College but became a brilliant Bible expositor. He was harassed by the anti-Christian Communist authorities and in 1956 was unjustly sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. When he died in 1972 the following note was found under his pillow,
“Christ is the Son of God who died for sinners. I die because of my belief in Christ. Watchman Nee”
His books such as ‘The Normal Christian Life’ and ‘Sit, Walk, Stand’ were very influential in my life after I became a Christian. Watchman Nee’s life centred on living for the Lord Jesus as he was convinced Jesus was the unique Son of God. He wrote,
“Today, even amongst Christians, there can be found much of that spirit that wants to give as little as possible to the Lord, and yet to get as much as possible from him. The prevailing thought today is of being used, as though that was the one thing that mattered. That my little rubber band should be stretched to the very limit seemed all-important. But this is not the Lord’s mind. The Lord wants us to be used, yes, but what he is after is that we pour all we have, ourselves, to Him, and if that be all, that is enough.”
Elsewhere he wrote,
“The right attitude is this: that I have my own will, Yet I will the will of God.”
Watchman Nee’s commitment to Christ reflects that of the apostles and the early church written about in the book of Acts. They served without counting the cost because they knew who they were serving.
1. Opposition
At that time of the apostles there was also great opposition from the authorities. This was largely because the Christians kept on talking about Jesus and persuading people that Jesus is the answer to every problem.
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” Acts 4:1-2
The authorities clearly felt that they needed to act to prevent this message getting out.
“They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.. But many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” Acts 4:3-4
The miracle of the healed paralytic had aroused people’s interest but it was the preaching of the message about God’s kingdom that produced permanent results. Today there are those who feel that if only we could do the sort of miracles that Jesus and the apostles did, then the church would grow as rapidly as it did then. But note what Luke says, it was hearing the message about Jesus that led people to join his church. Miracles only excite for a short time, but being persuaded by the message has a permanent effect.
The following day the Sanhedrin assembled and Peter and John were placed in the centre of the semicircle of judges. They stood just where Jesus had stood a few months before, where Jesus was condemned to be worthy of death for blasphemy, saying that he was the one and only Son of God. The apostles were asked,
“By what power or what name did you do this?” Acts 4:7
The Sanhedrin must have known the answer; this was a trick question. It was the teaching about Jesus that they wanted to suppress.
2. A Bold Response
Peter’s reply is very diplomatic. He first focuses on the charitable nature of what had been done and surely no-one could complain about that, but Peter doesn’t hesitate to shift the focus by talking about Jesus!
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” Acts 4:8-10
Just imagine the scene. Like their Lord, they were also at risk of being condemned to death, but they still did not shrink back from focusing on Jesus. He indirectly implies that the Sanhedrin had made a dreadful mistake - they had crucified God’s Son. Peter had already denied Jesus three times in this very geographical area and he was not about to do so again. Perhaps he remembered those poignant words of Jesus,
“Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes to his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26
How important this is for us today. We must learn again to open our mouths and talk about Jesus openly. It would be an interesting study to discover how often Christians today talk about the Lord Jesus to non-Christians during a working week. A striking feature of our visit to China was to see how Christians in the many house churches seldom missed an opportunity to talk about the Lord Jesus.
One reason why western churches are weak is because many are not convinced that the only way to heaven is by being a committed follower of Jesus. How often do you hear church ministers say at funerals that the deceased, who had no commitment to Christ or His church, had gone to ‘a better place.’ The apostles knew that to reject Christ in this life was to reject salvation. They said Jesus is,
“The stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”
Peter and John rammed this message home in no uncertain way,
“Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
To speak like this does take great courage and this was noted by the Sanhedrin. These disciples really believed what they were saying about who Jesus was.
It is not easy to speak about Jesus. Paul writes two similar passages in his letters about how we all need to keep praying for this boldness.
“. . . with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. . . . Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” Ephesians 6:15, 19
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” Colossians 4:2-3
The Sanhedrin did not know what to do with the apostles. The healed man was demonstrating his allegiance to Christ and his church by standing there alongside Peter and John. No crime had been committed, these men had simply done a great kindness by being the means for this miracle; furthermore their teaching clearly had popular support.
What leader wants to go against popular opinion, even in non-democratic societies? Yet having acted officially against the apostles they now needed to find a way out. They wanted the message that Jesus was God’s Messiah to die out. They make a decision,
“Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Acts 4:16-17
They cannot deny that a great miracle happened so they want to prohibit anyone talking about Jesus. Luke repeatedly makes it clear that is was the speaking about Jesus that annoyed the authorities most. It is the same today. People cannot realistically deny the evidence about Jesus and the selfless ultruism his followers often demonstrate, so some countries and institutions put great pressure on Christians not to talk about Jesus; good works, yes, speaking, no.
Peter and John were recalled to hear of the Sanhedrin’s decision,
“ They . . . commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” Acts 4:18
How common this type of directive is becoming today. Christians cannot wear crosses at work, they cannot talk about Jesus in public places or institutions. They cannot pray openly for patients. They cannot invite others to hear about Jesus. The apostles’ response is one of glorious confidence in the power of God.
“But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!’” Acts 4:19
This is a brilliant reply. Didn’t the Jewish Confession of Faith, the ‘Shema’, affirm that man’s prime duty was always to obey God?
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4
Peoplwe have to hear this message. It was because of this prime duty, to do what God commands, that the apostles conclude,
“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
Oh that Christ’s church today would demonstrate this same longing to pass on the message about Jesus in every possible way. If all Christians were speaking openly about Jesus, the law-makers would have to take notice of what God wants.
The Sanhedrin were in a quandary.
“After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.” Acts 4:21
Joy and praising God are a repeated theme throughout the book of Acts. Genuine thankful joy is a characteristic of those who have understood what salvation means. When we lack joy it is probably because we have a cool relationship with our Saviour.
3. The Strength of the Local Church
The immediate response of the apostles was to return to the church. This says a lot about what the church meant to them. They recognized that this small band of believers were ‘their own people’. The church is always the people who love the Lord Jesus, it is not a building or institution. They were a team who were in it together as Christ’a ambassadors.
“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.” Acts 4:23
The church’s response was to pray together and share their concerns with their Lord. When modern churches cannot see the need to pray together with their Lord about the pressures they are facing then something is seriously wrong. Is television or having time to myself more important than this?
Their prayer is very informative and is a model for our prayers. They first remember the God they are talking to:
1. The God of Creation
When facing a problem it is sensible first to remember that the God we worship is all-powerful – he created the universe out of nothing by his word.
“’Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.’” Acts 4:24
If God was able to do that, can he not support his people as they seek to serve him?
2. The God of Revelation
They then focused on the fact that God has spoken through his Word, the Bible. Loss of conviction that this is how God speaks to us is a major reason why many churches are so weak.
“You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David.” Acts 4:25
The way the great King David is described is remarkable. He is primarily God’s ‘servant.’ He is also a Father in the Faith because he shared the same relationship with the Lord that these Christians have. David was also concerned when people disparaged the Lord and he spoke up against this. They clearly know their Bibles because they then quote from Psalm 2, a psalm by David.
“’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One’.” Acts 4:25-26
The lesson is clear – Christians must live in obedience to what God has said in His word and they, like David must speak out.
3. The God of History
The young Christians recognize that history repeats itself. Just as David had experienced the problem they were now experiencing, so had Jesus. They recalled,
“Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” Acts 4:27-28
This understanding of the omnipotence of God is so important for us today. The Bible is clear that nothing can happen without God’s sovereign approval. I cannot die until God permits this; everything is in God’s control. Surely this is what made the early church so powerful. It is after remembering the facts given in the Bible and the facts about Jesus that they are now clear how they should respond corporately.
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29
How we Christians today need to come to this same conclusion. God has chosen us to be Christians so that we can pass on God’s message about Jesus and the salvation he brings. To speak to people in this way requires boldness, a boldness that is given by the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was Jesus they wanted to honour and represent. They knew that the Lord’s apostles had power to perform miracles and they wanted Jesus to be recognized through other miraculous healings.
“Stretch out you hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of you holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:30
Note that they considered everyone in the church, including Jesus, the apostles, and themselves were meant to see themselves as servants of the Lord God. We are no longer here for ourselves, we live on this earth to please our Lord and Master.
4. The Determination of the Local Church
What a joy it was to see the many house churches in China working together as teams to promote the Lord Jesus. They longed to find ways to winsomely talk about Jesus to taxi drivers, fellow passengers in trains and buses, shoppers and the like. Corporate prayer that focuses on the glory of the Lord and his Son, Jesus, will always have this effect.
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
In the Bible, being filled with the Holy Spirit means having that same Spirit that Jesus had with a determination to live as Jesus lived. God wants his people to so love their Lord and Saviour that nothing will stand in the way of living to please and honour him.
As Watchman Nee taught, we Christians today need to begin by sitting in the assured status of being children of God. We should so enjoy his presence, that we walk as he walked and stand against all the attempts of Satan to dislodge us from our relationship with God through his Son, the Lord Jesus. His short book ‘Sit, Walk, Stand’ is well worth reading.
But what a church –
“And they were all filled with the Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
BVP
Dec 2016
