Word of Salvation – Vol. 33 No. 26 – July 1988

The Beacon

Sermon by Rev. M. C. DeGraaf on Acts 3:4 & 12

Reading: 1Cor.1:10-31

Singing: P/H 324; 169; BoW.H.13; 316.

Brothers and Sisters,

Not far from my home in North Ryde, on the Warringah road heading toward Dee Why, there is a small suburb called – Beacon Hill.  At the centre of that small suburb is a carpark, behind which is the original Beacon Hill.  On that hill, over a hundred-and-fifty years ago, when Sydney was still a small town, there was a small contingent of men whose job it was to keep a look out for ships which were headed for Port Jackson.  When they had spotted a sail they would light a large fire so that the Sydneysiders would know that the ship was coming.  We call a large five like that a "Beacon" – which the dictionary tells us is: "a signal or signal fire on a pole or on a hill used for guiding or for warning."

In olden days beacon-fires were quite common as both guides or as warners of danger.  Nowadays of course, we no longer have beacon fires burning on hill tops.  But that doesn't mean that you should assume we no longer have "beacons".  Just think of light houses and the buoys in the harbour.  They also warn and guide.  Also scattered over this country there are many electronic beacons which guide aircraft and warn them about high mountains and the like.  They can be very important when you are navigating over a large country like ours or a mountainous country like Papua-New Guinea!

Our passage today – in Acts 3 – is also, in a round-about way, speaking about Beacons.  Now, it's obviously not talking about electronic beacons or even а beacon-fire.  But rather, it is referring to a spiritual beacon, a spiritual warner, a guide, a direction setter for the Christian life!  Indirectly we also see our passage warn against following the wrong "close-at-hand" beacons that we might meet within the church.

The events described here in Acts 3, obviously enough, occur very early on in the life of the church.  Jesus would have left less than a few months earlier and Pentecost would have still been a fresh occurrence in their minds!  The Church was still growing in leaps and bounds – in at least three ways:

1.  At the end of Chapter 2 we are told that, "the Lord added to their number daily".  In chapter 4 the three-thousand of Pentecost had become five-thousand.  Chapter 6 tells us "that the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, (even) a large group of priests became obedient to the faith".  Which tells you a little about what kind of impact they must have had on the city!  So clearly, the numerical growth was significant.

2.  But so was the spiritual growth of the believers.  The fruit of the Spirit is obvious in the things that we read.  For example once again notice the end of chapter 2.  It paints a picture of a very close Spirit governed community.  They broke bread in each other's homes.  No one was in need; they sold what they had to help those who were less fortunate.  (What that may fully mean for today is a complex question).  But, on the surface at least, two things are obvious: they had a deep devotion for God (notice they got together to praise God every day!!) and flowing from that, they had a deep devotion for one another (their brother and their sister in the church was much more important than any possessions that they might have had!!).  The fruits of love, joy, peace (between one another), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness were clearly evidenced in that early community!

3.  The third area of growth is spoken about more indirectly in our text this morning.  It is the growth among the leadership in the church.  When we read a passage like this we are struck by how God was using simple men like Peter and John, as we see in the first few chapters of this book.  Despite His ascension, or perhaps to put it more properly, because of His Ascension, Jesus is still very much involved in the work of the church.  Really this book has an unfortunate name.  If we would see what's really happening here, and also through the whole history of the church, it would seem to be more accurate to call it, "The Acts of Christ".  Without Him how could these incredible things be happening?

Acts 3 begins by reminding us that the early Christians had not as yet totally broken their ties with traditional Judaism.  We are told that the two apostles were on their way to the temple to take part in the afternoon prayers.  On their way in through the "Beautiful" gate they see a beggar who calls out to them for money.  He hopes to get from them some kind of gift.  But Peter stops that kind of thinking, and he replies by saying, in effect, "Hey, look at us, look at who we are; we are just poor men – we cannot give you silver or gold.  But there is someone greater to whom you should be looking!  The true Beacon – Jesus Christ is His name.  In His power, through His Spirit, "Stand-up and walk!"

As we saw last time, the Spirit's task is to point to Christ, not at the so-called "miracle-worker" or even at the Spirit Himself!!  This same point is brought back in verse 14.  After the miracle (and many commentators say after the prayers) a small crowd gathers around Peter and John, looking to them for something sensational.  Obviously they are eager for some outstanding miracle.

But Peter puts a stop to all that and once again speaks about where to look.  "Why do you stare at us, as if we made this man walk?"  The one you should be looking toward is the one you denied before Pilate!!  The faithful, covenant God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He has glorified Jesus!  It is through Him and His name that any healing is done!  Brothers and sisters, He is the beacon on whom our eyes should be fixed!

It is sad how often our eyes are fixed not on Him and His Glory but on one another.  Bakker and Falwell are not the only ones whose churches can begin to look so man-centred.  When I hear people speaking about their churches you see a whole myriad of Beacons.  But you sometimes wonder about the one true beacon.  We talk about some great minister, or some really friendly group of people, or some worship that really "grabs" me.  Some people are obsessed with new church buildings or old hymns.  So much of our talk centres on our gut-reaction and our feelings; the things we can easily focus on with a minimum of effort and discomfort.

But what Peter is pointing at here is that we are to go beyond all that.  We're not just some social club, or mutual admiration society.  We are followers of the King!!  And like the lame man, we should focus our attention on the King'.  The people, the possessions, the ways of doing things are all merely instruments in His hand.

People of God, to see that takes faith!  It takes an openness to the Son of God; a willingness to truly see with the eyes of faith!  How He gathers, preserves and defends a church chosen to everlasting life.  Not by our efforts, our feelings, our traditions or our wonderful new inspiration.  But rather by His Word and His Spirit!

You know, God has given the church some wonderful people, some wonderful buildings and traditions.  These can be used effectively for His Kingdom.  But if our eyes become fixed on them, they can also become shackles preventing us doing what we have been called to do in this world.  The story is told of how Thomas Aquinas once called upon Pope Innocent III when he was counting a large sum of money.  "You see, Thomas," said the Pope, "the Church can no longer say, 'Silver and Gold have I none'".  "True, holy Father," said Thomas, "But neither can she now say 'Arise and walk!!’”

Amen