“Arise” - Christians need to "get up"
1) It has often been said that actions have consequences.
2) For every action there is a reaction.
3) In the book of Acts we are repeatedly exposed to an “action” – the resurrection of Jesus.
a) We find that God designed this action to create a “reaction” in the lives of people.
b) The resurrection is not just a fact; it is a call to arms for the saved.
4) Tonight I want to study a little word that is often translated “arise.”
5) We heard this term read from Acts 9:6.
a) Paul was on the road to Damascus, hoping to persecute Christians in that city.
b) Jesus met him on the road stopped him.
c) Saul fell to the ground, was blinded, and wanted to know what to do.
d) Jesus told him to “arise” and go into the city and there he would learn what he had to do.
6) “Arise” in Acts 9:6 has the sense of “arise” or “get up.”
7) Tonight most of our passages will come from the book of Acts.
a) As you turning to Acts 2 le me share a few of the other places that use this word.
b) In Mt. 9:9 we find that Matthew “arose” and followed the Lord (the same word).
c) This was before the resurrection of Christ.
d) If men like Matthew started working for j before the resurrection, what about now?
8) Peter’s mother in law was healed from a very bad fever.
9) She then “arose” after her illness and got busy with the tasks she needed to do (Lk. 4:38-39).
10) Our study starts in Acts begins with Acts 2:24 – READ
a) Peter told his Jewish listeners Jesus had “arisen.” This was part of the first gospel sermon.
b) It was also part of many of the sermons that followed.
c) Before we look at more sermons in Acts, let’s notice more things about this one.
d) Verse 30 – READ – the KJV is especially clear. It says “raise up.”
e) Peter used this word again just a few words later.
f) Verse 32 has the term a third time – READ
11) A major point in the first sermon about Christ was that Jesus is no longer in the grave.
12) A lot of religions are based on a leader who died and who is still in the grave.
13) People follow Muhammad, but he is dead. Some still follow Hitler, but he is dead.
14) Joseph Smith still has a following but his body is in the grave. We can list leader after lead.
15) Jesus is a living savior and that makes Christianity unique.
a) Peter continued to use this word as we see from the next chapter.
b) Acts 3:22 – READ
c) Peter said the resurrection was actually a matter of Old Testament prophecy.
d) In other words, the Jews should have been expecting it.
e) God had given them advance notice about the Messiah.
16) Sometimes when a leader is “raised up” he does evil.
17) Jesus was raised up to “do good” – verse 26 – READ
18) Jesus has risen from the dead and He wants to bless all people with forgiveness of sins.
19) This is why we refer to the “gospel” of Christ (“gospel” means “good news”).
a) Luke tells us there were some people who are not all that enthused about the Lord’s work.
b) Even now there are those who wish Jesus were still dead.
c) Some hate the idea of a resurrected Christ.
d)
In Acts 5:33
we are told about some people who hated this message so much they wanted
to kill preachers.
20) Before this happened a man “stood up” – Acts 5:34 – READ
a) This man could have been a modern politician.
b) He tried to smooth things over. He was not interested in truth; he just wanted to make peace.
c) This is precisely what many in our world do today.
21) Today we have people who smile and still try to tell people “everything is okay.”
22) These smooth talkers say things like: “Christians have some views that are just a little too extreme.
23) With some spit and polish a person eloquent with words brushes aside what the Bible says.”
24) Men and women still “stand up” to try to lessen the force of the gospel.
25) There are people (men and women) who are very, very good at this type of thing.
26) They have been trained and trained very well.
27) For Christians, it is our job to not let that happen.
28) Jesus has been raised up and it is our job to stand up for our faith.
a) God tells us and most of us know others are willing to stand up for what they believe in.
b) Acts 5:36 – READ
c) We do not know all the details about this man.
d) He seems to have gained quick popularity and then fallen by the wayside.
e) He stood up, but not for long because his house was founded on the sand.
f) A similar thing happened with someone else – verse 37 – READ
29) As Christians we need to realize that all types of people are going to “stand up” in our world.
30) When it comes to what people will believe in, the Christian faith has competition.
a) We have completion from other religions—false religions.
b) The world sets before the entire population false gods. There are false value systems.
c) In our world the side of good is literally arrayed against the side of evil.
d) On the side of evil, there are many different forces.
e) Our job, if we are a Christian, is to stand up for the risen Christ.
31) God wants His people to “arise” and be the kind of people the Bible describes.
32) This is what Philip was told in Acts 8:26.
a) There was a man who had gone to Jerusalem to worship; he was returning home.
b) The Holy Spirit told Philip to “arise” and go see this man who had worshiped.
c) Here was a fellow who was interested in religion but he did not know the truth.
d) A Christian was told to go -- arise, get up, meet this fellow.
33) Today Christians can think, “I should arise and do that good work.
34) “I need to do that. There is an opportunity and I should take it.”
35) Sometimes—maybe more times than not, a person does not arise (go).
36) One of the greatest words in our vocabulary should be “arise” – get up and go.
37) When someone needs seen, contacted, or help is needed, we should be among the first to go.
38) It may not be easy, fun, convenient, or quick. If we are a Christian, we go.
a) In Acts 9:11 we find a man named “Ananias” – he was the Christian who taught Paul.
b) God told this brother to “arise” and go see Saul of Tarsus.
39) Ananias did not think God’s idea was all that wise.
40) He said he had heard stories about Saul.
a) God told him to “arise” (go) and God meant go.
b) There are going to be times when we may not be very comfortable “arising.”
c) God did not say “go” when we feel like it.”
d) He did not say “go” if we are comfortable with the job.
e) God simply said go (arise) and this is our commission.
41) Peter is certainly a good illustration of this point.
42) He was asked by some people to “arise” and go offer some assistance (Acts 9:39).
43) It seems he did that without question.
a) In Acts 10, where we again find our word, we see a different picture of Peter.
b) He was told to “arise,” kill, and eat some food that Jews had been forbidden from eating.
c) Peter did not want to do that. He refused.
d) Three times he refused to do kill and eat the food put before him.
44) Today we can be as stubborn as Peter was when it comes to doing the will of God.
45) We may have an opportunity to do something and we let it go.
46) A second chance comes along and we still do not respond.
47) A third opportunity may come. God’s patience with us can wear thin.
48) Like Peter we finally need to get “on the stick” and “arise.”
49) Acts 12:7 uses this same word and applies it to a time when Peter was in prison.
a) An angel showed up to free Peter.
b) The angel said “arise quickly.”
c) I wonder why “quickly” is in the text.
d) There could be several reasons. This verse reminds us of an important fact.
e) People sometimes reason they will get around to something “someday.”
50) Much of God’s word can be and must be done quickly.
51) Many opportunities are lost if people delay.
52) People we want to reach may move, die, and some may lose interest with time.
53) It would be great to have people arise and they would be active in good things.
54) Sometimes people “arise” and do things that are not all that good.
a) A sad reference in Acts that uses “arise” is Acts 20:30.
b) Paul was speaking with some elders at Ephesus.
c) He said a time would come when things would decline.
d) False teachers would “arise” from within the eldership.
e) What a local congregation should seek for is good men who will “arise” in its future.
f) It should work so it is training future deacons, Bible class teachers, elders and preachers.
g) At Ephesus Christians who taught false doctrine would spring up.
55) Religious error can come from outsiders or insiders—in either case it is deadly.
56) If false teachers arise, other sound Christians need to arise to stop it in its tracks.
57) Error is like poison; it will kill God’s people.
58) If a congregation is teaching the truth, it will be teaching Acts 22:16.
a) This passage says “arise” and be baptized - confession and washing sins away are also mentioned.
b) In order to become a Christian a person must do some things.
c)
Faith,
repentance and confession all have a part in salvation.
As mentioned this morning so does baptism.
d) We have invitations because they give people a chance to “arise” and respond to God’s word.
59) More than 100 times “arise” occurs in the New Testament.
60) It is an important word because it calls people to obey the commands of God.
61) Tonight, are we someone who has “arisen”?
62) We have chosen in the past to respond to the call of the gospel.
63) Each day we try to continue “arising” and doing the will of God.
64) If this is not the way our life is being lived, tonight God calls on you through His word to “arise.”