Stand Your Ground!
Witness to the World: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 43:06
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Life is not easy
Life is not easy
I think you would agree, life is not easy. Life and our outlook on life matter and our passage tonight shows a great example.
(illustration: College)
How about being a Christian is that always easy?
Jesus in Lk14 talks about counting the cost (Lk14:28)
He speaks in (vv.7-11) - be humble and take place of humility not the exalted place at the table
He speaks in (vv.12-14) - to invite the poor those who cannot give back
It may not be easy to do what Christ wants, to pick up our cross and follow Him but it is worth it.
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?
So count the cost and in our passage tonight we will see counting the cost will come into account when we see the Apostles will stand their ground.
Jesus has in other places given words of encouragement so the apostles could stand their ground (Jn16:33)
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Our passage tonight comes on the heals of a healing (Act3:9-10)
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
(Transition) No one who was there could deny what they were seeing and they were filled with wonder and amazement. You will see that some responded with a new born type of faith, others, well, let’s read the passage in a minute and add. First, I thing you see this passage breaks down like this.
Persecution begins (Act4:1-12)
Persecutions demands (Act4:13-22)
Persecutions results (Act4:23-31)
Persecution begins
Persecution begins
Because the apostles never missed an opportunity to preach the gospel they have gotten themselves in some hot water. So after the preaching came the persecution.
Now with us being live on Facebook and not able to interact I will break down the scripture in smaller portions than what we normally do when we are together.
So, persecution begins with:
The arrest (Act4:1-4; Act23:8)
1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
So on the heals of the healing where there were many who were in wonder and amazement, others we have our passage tonight:
well the religious folks, were greatly disturbed (v.2).
Disturbed not because of the healing but because of the preaching, preaching the resurrection from the dead. See the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
So they laid hands on them and jailed them overnight (v.3)
The other problem here is from the preaching came the believing of many and that would not make the religious priests, and even the guards who would think there could be an uprising, a problem very happy.
Church growth, from 3,000 on Pentecost to 5,000 now, talk about church growth!
The appearance (Act4:5-7)
5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.
7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”
well at least not like with Jesus and the council meeting in the middle of the night, they waiting until the next morning.
So now standing before the powerful religious sect, the rulers, elders, scribes, High Priest and and the others from high-priestly descent they only have one question for them.
Look at (v.7), what was the question? “by what power, in what name have you done this?”
Jews are often heard saying “in the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
They did not question the miracle just the power in which the miracle was performed under. Whose name.
The is power in the name of Jesus and when we pray in His name, we are praying under His authority for His will to be done under His power and for His purpose and glory. When we say “in Jesus name.” We are acknowledging He is the one with the power not us.
The response (Act4:8-12; Act2:23, 36, 3:14-15, 2:24, 34; Ps118:22; Mt1:21 and Jn14:6)
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Think about this for a minute, what were they being judged for? Healing the sick man? For doing a good deed? Have you ever been judged for doing a good deed, maybe called an enabler, or some other name for helping someone, or doing something good? Hold on, one day you may and we should not be surprised by it.
They answer the question, what name? The name of Jesus (v.10) you know Him, the one you crucified, but God raised from the dead (v.10)
The proof is in the standing, we said in the name of Jesus and the man stands before you in good health.
In the name of Jesus the stone which you rejected has now become the chief cornerstone (v.11)
Then the all important verse and well worth us memorizing so we understand the authority.
12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Remember the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection and they are claiming the resurrection power of Jesus and it can be seen in other places too, and for there to be a resurrection there had to be the crucifixion first so here are some quick references
23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
God’s grand plan, God planned a plan, purposed a purpose with foreknowledge that He would be handed over to godless men and put to death so God’s scheme of redemption could be fulfilled through the resurrection. For:
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
God made Him both Lord and Christ, the One who was
14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
He was the Holy, the Righteous, the Prince of life that they put to death, but God raised form the dead! God’s power displayed look at
24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Death overcome by the resurrection. God’s grand plan to be the propitiation for man’s sins.
21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
For there is no other way
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
(Transition) So the arrest, the awaiting, the inquiry, the response by the apostles now leads to the demands.
Persecution: The Demands
Persecution: The Demands
Persecution often happens when a demand is made and the demand is not met, in this case the persecution happens and demands are made to stop the persecution and what is what we will see.
Again, going to break down in little smaller section. May we look at the Counsel’s response to the answered question.
What they saw (Act4:13-18)
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
They saw the boldness (confidence) of Peter and John (v.13)
Look again and see what they reasoned about them.
Uneducated, untrained.
It brought amazement and knew they had been with Jesus.
Does your faith bring amazement, can it bring amazement where people want to know where you get your boldness, your confidence that you have in the name of Jesus? (expand on this)
They also saw the healed man with them, and were left speechless; there was a miracle and they could not deny it, for all had seen it. The miracle brought about believing and believing to responding and responding to adding to the numbers to 5000
The council wanted to stop the spread of Jesus and the preaching of the power of Jesus name and the resurrection from the dead and that brings about the command given
18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Has anyone ever asked you, commanded you not to speak or teach about Jesus? (insert personal story here; abbreviated version Amcap; sister)
What the Apostles did (Act4:19-20; Act5:19, 2:2-3, 32)
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
So, are we to give heed to you or to God? It really is not a question, but a statement for look at (v.2) we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.
Peter uses that type of line again in
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
What they had seen - tongues of fire (Act2:3)
What they heard - sound like a violent rushing wind (Act2:2)
Also what they saw, Jesus who God raised up (Act2:32)
(Transition) - now it is not over, the persecution that is, look now what happens, the reaction.
What the councils next reaction was (Act4:21-22; Act3:9-10)
21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Some more threatening the released them, why?
No basis to punish them and because of the people, remember they were afraid of an uprising
They could not deny what they were seeing this man who had never walked in 40 years is not standing, walking and praising God and it brought others to praise God too.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
(encouragement) - Let your faith help lead others to have faith and to praise God too
(Transition) - So, we have seen the arrest, the appearance, the response now comes the results
Persecution: The results
Persecution: The results
God’s grand plan, God’s perfect plan had planned results and from this persecution we have seen people believe, but now there is more for us to look at too.
We see the results in Peter and John’s return (Act4:23; Act4:18)
23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Threatened and released now to the companions to convey all that had been said to them
Hah! stop speaking doing things in Jesus name, yeah right, can’t but speak the name of Jesus
We see the results in Peter and John’s prayer (Act4:24-28)
Look at the prayer
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things?
26 ‘The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
They addressed the Lord of all creation, the maker of heaven and earth
Who spoke through the prophet David and fulfilled it in Jesus, but I better give you the passage on that.
We see prophesy fulled as spoken in (Ps2:1-6)
1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
There was an uproar, the people were turning from their old ways and coming to believe in Jesus. It brought about the persecution we have just read about, as prophesied and fulfilled now.
We see some prayer request (Act4:29-30; Act5:12, 15-16)
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
so the persecution brought about prayer for boldness and confidence, as well as asking for healing to take place in the name of Jesus. and that happens in many signs and wonders (Act5:12, 15-16)
We see answered prayer (Act4:31, 32)
Power of prayer displayed
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Power of prayer demonstrated
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.
(transition to close)
The persecution lead to a proclamation
The name of Jesus and better to please God than man.
Proclamation led to prayer
prayer resulted in power displayed, boldness proclaimed and the congregation of one heart and soul!
If we ever face a persecution due to our faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His name may we respond in like, in fellowship, in prayer, in boldness and being of one heart and soul.
(transition to encouragement/invitation)
(encouragement slide 1- be bold-1)
Be bold today, live our your faith and share your faith
Be His today, if you have not done that yet, chose to do that today and lets talk about how to get that done.
Be going, to your family, to your friends on line, by phone, by text, by Facetime or any other way you can from the safety of your own home, since we have to be socially distant from one another at the moment.
(Encouragement slide 2) prayer (end recording)