How To Handle Persecution part 3
Notes
Transcript
Last week we started looking at the ways that Peter and John handled being put on trial by the Sanhedrin and what they said.
We looked at being submissive (vv 5-7)
We looked at being filled with the Spirit in (v 4a)
And we looked at being aggressive in seizing opportunities in (vv 8-13).
This morning we are going to finish looking at how we should handle persecution.
Because how we react to these situations does matter and even during times of trial and fear we still have an obligation to lead others to Christ.
We Must be Obedient to God at All Costs (v 14)
We Must be Obedient to God at All Costs (v 14)
What we must be prepared for is that often times our obedience will put us in the path of persecution.
The ways of God and the ways of man run in different paths.
When those paths collide it results in the children of God being put to the test for what they believe.
Seeing the man who was healed standing before them gave the Sanhedrin little to stand on about what had happened.
Peter told them that they were in fact leading people to God not away from God.
All we have to do is just be obedient God will do the rest.
He made us this promise in Luke 21:15
15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
Peter and John were faithful to heal this man and stand before the Sanhedrin and because of this they were given boldness and the right words to say at the right times.
It must have been God using them through the Spirit because look at the life of Peter before the coming of the Spirit and after.
Obedience To God Results in Irrefutable Evidence of Christ (vv 15-18)
Obedience To God Results in Irrefutable Evidence of Christ (vv 15-18)
The question for the court about what to do with these men was not an easy one.
They could not deny that a miracle had taken place the man was standing right there.
When we follow the path God lays out for us it results in undeniable proof of the existence of God and our salvation through Christ.
Ironically, the early believers had to be commanded to be quiet, while many modern ones have to be commanded to speak.
This was an important crossroads in the history of the church.
Had the apostles acquiesced to the Sanhedrin’s demand, all subsequent church history would have been radically different.
Everything hinged on their willingness to obey God at all costs—even their lives.
We must Proclaim Christ Even when told not Too. (vv 19-22)
We must Proclaim Christ Even when told not Too. (vv 19-22)
We must always proclaim Christ but we must do it in a respectful manner.
What Peter and John were saying here is that they can only speak of what they have heard and seen.
They know that Jesus is the true Son of God and they are going to tell people about Him and His death for all people.
We must proclaim Christ because no one else will.