Cautious Courage

When I am busy, I mean really busy, with the work of the church, I am reminded of how much I rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep me going. I pray continually for courage. The church walks a tightrope of courage where we may fall off on either side. The side to the left is the side of too much boldness. Striking out on our own, ungrounded by Scripture, common sense or both. The forces that would push you off that side are those who say "You are too careful", and "God should protect us", even, "we are not doing enough," or "You need to be more creative." While each of these statements are true, their truth is used to cause us to misstep, to miss important details, to rely on God to take care of careless planning or downright negligence." The voice demanding more can be pride or impatience, leading us away from God's plans and our real work within those plans. The voice that calls for creativity can even lead us to look for meanings in God's Word that are beyond what has been placed in the inspired text.
At the same time the forces that push us to the right side of undue caution are the voices saying "be careful, we might lose." and "We have to focus on our security." They say "All these new projects are too much" and "Lets make do with what we have." Again in the right place all of these statements are true, except that fear of loss can cause us to never try, so we lose by default; Good diligent security can never prevent all possible problems, we do rely on God for His protection and provision of resources. We do need to ensure that we are not overextended, but we cannot become complacent and fail to challenge ourselves to do more than we are comfortable in order to grow. We are to be content with what we have and use each resource as best as we are able; to squeeze every drop of usefulness from every penny, to care for and rest our horses, those who power our work, our volunteers and leaders, and to remain faithful to the basics of our mission and message. But we must also be creative, find ways to extend the use of our resources, find new and exciting, motivating missions for our volunteers and leaders, find ways to cycle work celebration and rest, and find new and effective ways to share our core message and accomplish our mission.

Because of this We have to live with an attitude of Cautious Courage. Cautious Courage is what drives the soldier out of the perimeter while keeping his eyes open for boobytraps, ambush, and unseen danger. Cautious Courage is what leads the pioneer to dare the risks of the open and unknown country for a better life, while choosing the best and safest route. Cautious Courage is what makes us able to be faithful to Jesus' call as he says "Take up your cross and follow me." while knowing the cost. Jesus said in Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
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When Jesus said these kinds of things many turned away. In another place he offended many and they quit him. But when he asked the disciples if they would leave too. Peter is quoted in John 6:68-69
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life . 69 "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."
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Following Jesus takes Cautious courage as you walk the Shepherd's Path.

In Christ, and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Commentary for Sunday's text

Since I do not preach from notes (You wouldn't want to hear a sermon that I did.) What I have to remind you, and myself, of Sunday's message is the commentary I've prepared beforehand. I hope this is helpful and again I invite questions and discussion.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Acts 2:37-42

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, " Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, " Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, " Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

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Acts 2:37-42 Exposition

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, " Brethren, what shall we do?"

Responding to the news of the gospel their hearts are touched, more accurately, “pricked” or “agitated violently”. The respond by asking “what shall we do?” The gospel requires a response when by the Spirit its preaching is effective. One should not be surprised that they become troubled. By Peters sermon they are made personally culpable in the Death of God's Son. Such is the truth of the Gospel. Sin is the reason for the crucifixion. It was for sin and to procure the forgiveness therof that Christ died. Trouble at the hearing of ones own lost condition is a work of the Spirit. If you find yourself worried that you may be lost, take it as the Spirits call to ask as these men did “What shall [I] do?” Then be prepared to respond affirmatively to the answer. It is not sufficient to regret sin, the remedy must be sought and taken. Just as it is not enough to know your disease, but that you must find its cure and take it.

38 Peter said to them, " Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter does not leave them in their sins. Certainly Peter's sermon would not be considered “Seeker sensitive” today. It would be branded “Hellfire and brimstone” and marked as unacceptable in many of our churches. Yet notice that it is effective in being the means of the Spirit to draw people to God. Peter could have left them without hope. To die in the misery of their sin, yet he does not. Even though these men were culpable in Jesus death, Peter extends to them the true means of Salvation. The grace of the message is beautiful. The need not pay the penalty for Christ's death. There is no penitent act or payment of reparations. They must simply repent and be baptized. Repentance is the willing turning from Sin, the change of heart and mind from willing sinfulness to agreement with God that our acts are sinfull and there is no merit in them which can save us. It is the turning also, as much as you are able and with the Spirit's help to do what is right from here forward. Baptism is important here not only because it is right. Jesus did command that the Apostles “make disciples...baptizing them”. But also baptism in the “name of Jesus Christ,” is the public identification with Jesus, whom they had formerly rejected. It is like taking off the Jersey of your favorite team and donning the Jersey of it's rival. But more so it is turning from the world's opinion to stand for something that the world will reject. In one way this Grace is simple in that there is nothing one does to earn it. Yet at the same time it is difficult because we must stand in the face of the World and say I reject you and I am going with Christ whom you hate. Does this sound harsh. Then why did Jesus say (as recorded in John 15:18-20 NASU )

" If the world hates you , you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you .

Likewise Scripture says in 1 John 3:13 NASU

Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you .

I see no trouble with Peter request that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as opposed to “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” as in Matthew's recording of the great commission. The point here is identification with Jesus as the Son of God, and Baptism as a mark of God's grace, not as a formulaic action one takes to be saved by which he will be lost if the words are not gotten precisely right. Salvation it is clear, is through Christ, not a formula or works.

In addition Peter proclaims the promise of the Holy Spirit. A person who is saved and identified with Christ does through the promise of God, receive the Holy Spirit. One can debate endlessly when and how this occurs, or one can simply receive the promise by faith and take God at His word that one who believes in Christ, and calls on His name, who has repented and is baptized, has assurance that he or she has received the Holy Spirit. These acts do not manipulate God to action, but serve to grant us assurance of God's promise. If we lack in any of these work then we lack also the assurance that the work gives.

39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

God has worked out His purpose in Christ and has given us His promises through His Word. The good news of this promise is not for any identifiable group of individuals, but to all the secretly elect of God who are being called to God. The identity of these elect being known only to God, we must therefore proclaim God's promise of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit to all that all who receive it will be among those to whom the promise is effective, namely “as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.

40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, " Be saved from this perverse generation!"

Peter's message is persistent as he testifies with many other words and exhortations. His words are also “testimony” as it is that he “testified” built from the word for witness. Our message is not our own or up to our skill or creativity. It is simply and accurately repeating those things we have received from God's Word. The message is also to call out to those who would hear that they must be saved from what is a “perverse” or warped or twisted world. The world and even the community we live in, by itself and without Christ is a perverse, warped and twisted version of what It was meant to be and will never be anything more without Christ.

41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

This passage is the great hope of many a small congregation, and yet the means of it we fail to employ. Churches look to gimmicks, the latest “Christian” fad, watering down of the call of God in Scripture and many other things to attempt to “open the doors” to allow many to come in. Yet it is the claims of the Gospel that draw these 3000 to baptism and not anything else. We have been equipped with the same message and yet we seek some other means. It is no wonder we fail when we look to something else instead of witnessing faithfully to the Gospel for growth. Those who received it were baptized. Those who heard the Word turned against the world and identified themselves with Christ.

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

At the same time the result of this turning to Christ is the development of a real community. More on this in the verses that follow. For now though we see a group of new Christ followers “devoted” to the apostles teaching, not neglecting their need for instruction; “devoted” to fellowship, enjoying one another as a community of those who were in Christ; “devoted” to the breaking of bread, not merely superficial relationships but the intimacy of shared family life at the table; and “devoted” to prayer, speaking to God and living in community not just with each other but in communion with God as well. The content of their prayers is unspecified but “prayer” is a clear mark of one who have received the Gospel and its effects. Indeed the marks of a believer are shown here in part as learning the faith which we have received (“the apostles' teaching”), “fellowship”, sharing community (“breaking bread”), and

“prayer”. In measuring the Church's effectiveness today, even our own congregations, how do we measure up in these categories. Are we hungry to learn and discuss matters of faith? Do we enjoy the company of other believers and prefer their company to the world? (Not to say that we exclude the world but that we enjoy each other more than we enjoy the world.) Do we truly and intentionally share life together or do we keep each other at a polite distance? And are we “devoted” to conversation with God for ourselves, each other and any other subject of concern to us?