Rev Jim Lyons_God is still on the Throne_Sun 10th May 26 am

Today the Rev. Lyons continues with our study series in Acts of the Apostles. This time we are looking at Acts Chapter 5 from verse 12 through to 42.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Let's turn back to the Book of Acts this morning as we continue through our study. We're now in chapter 5. We have looked at the first eleven verses. The account regarding Ananias and Sapphira. We'll pick up at the end of that reading there at verse 11. And we're reading through to the end of the chapter, which is verse 42. Acts chapter 5, verse 11. And because of the account of Ananias and Sapphira, with their insincerity and hypocrisy, of course they were struck down dead, they were buried. And then the effect of that comes in verse 11. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly, and the believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them in beds and couches, that at least a shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him, which is a sect of the Sadducees, and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, Go, stand in the temple, and speak to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together with all the elders of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened them we found no one inside. Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priest heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. So one came and told them, saying, Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, Did we strictly did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you fill Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us. But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to his right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are as witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the consuls stood up, a Pharisee named Gamalael, a teacher of the law, held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them, men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Thodas stood up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered, and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and threw away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. Now I say to you, keep away from these men, let them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to be fighting against God. And they agreed with him. And when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name, and daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Amen. Let's have a short prayer. Father, we come again before you and your word. We pray that in Jesus' name you would speak into our hearts today by your Holy Spirit for Jesus' sake. Amen. Most of us marvel when we see those little flowers thriving in all kinds of weathers. Obviously, I am referring to none other than snow drops. Despite their delicate, fragile appearance, they are resilient in cold climates. It is noted they possess a specialized biology which allows them to push through frozen ground, surviving the covering of snow with standing sub-zero temperatures. They contain special proteins which protect their shells from ice crystals forming. It's like they have their own built-in antifranes. Although we are aware of this, their leaves have not, maybe aware of their leaves have pointed tips, which enables them to push through the frozen hard soil. The downward-facing bell-shaped flowers protects their pollen, which is battered by the rain and snow. They have also been described as low maintenance and hardy, easy to grow, and often multiplying and lasting for decades. Despite everything that's thrown at them, though weak in appearance, yet they are resilient. Therefore, they survive. They have all kinds of things thrown at them. And of course, as you progress the book, it gets worse. Yet they're resilient and therefore rise to fight another day. So waves of persecution come and go, and setbacks come, yet they just seem to keep on going. And it's such a challenge to read it. What was their secret? What was it that made them so resilient against such opposition? What kept them from being overwhelmed with despondency? If there are various answers to those questions, I think they all find their source in this, that God was evidently with them. So in this passage, we will look at those points one by one. First of all, God assured them that he was with them. Verse 16 to 17. According to verse 12, we see these believers met at Solomon's porch, which is part of the temple precinct. And it isn't the first time they were there. They had no buildings to go and meet in, like we do. So they met there. They did there also after the healing of the lame man in chapter 3. In John chapter 10, we're also informed that Jesus walked there and preached to some Jews who responded by trying to stone him. While the believers are in this public, public place, we have these words in verse 13. Yet none of the rest dare join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And no doubt the believers are held in high regard. Their passion and enthusiasm is evident to all, and the transformed lives of thousands stand as a great testimony to the Lord Jesus. But despite the positive points, there was a negative point there as well. There's great fear upon the church because of what happened to Ananias and Zepharah. And God has rooted out the hypocrisy. And therefore, we've got this negative thing that none of the rest dared join them. And it may be that many would think that nobody's going to join this group. This group here, these thousands of people, they're finished. The great wonders that have been done, it's all over. And the great growth perspective had has come to a conclusion. Well, if that was the mindset and rhetoric of some, it would soon be silenced because God evidently set it down that He was with them. If that negative point did anything, it would deter anybody who's going to be half-hearted joining this group of people. There's nobody going to be half-hearted, come and say, Oh, well, I'll just go along, you know, become a Christian and sit there and do nothing, you know. No. That would deter people like that from joining this church. God was purifying his church. God was with them and powerfully at work, verse 14. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord. Some wouldn't dare to join them, but the work went on. Increasingly, multitudes of both men and women. So the gospel was being preached, it was being confirmed with signs following, and multitudes were coming to Christ. So the work was moving forward, and not only was it moving forward, it was spreading out. Because in verse 16 it says, also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all heed. No wonder the leaders of the Israelites' leaders here were jealous and envious of these people. We have absolutely nothing to match the power and blessing that is upon these individuals' lives. So the work moves out beyond Jerusalem into Judea, which of course that's no surprise, because Jesus said, This is what you're going to do. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Now we're not told, but there may be some who had a concern in among these believers that they have lost God's blessing because of the account of Ananias and Sephardis, and that they wouldn't experience those days again. If such fears were real, God put it to an end. Because he answered their prayer that they prayed in chapter 4, because they prayed for boldness, but also for healings, signs and wonders. And it's answered there in verse 12 and verse 15. And through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were done among the people, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them in beds and couches, that at least a shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Now it doesn't say that they were healed by the passing shadow of Peter, just as they hoped to. You know, it's a bit like, you know, the woman uh with the issue of blood, and and she she broke through the crowd to Jesus and she touched the hem of his garment. You know. The power wasn't in the garment. There weren't people at the cross, you know, when they when they vied for the garments of Jesus, they weren't vying for those garments of Jesus so that they might be healed. The power wasn't in the garment, the car is in the person. And the power is not in the shadow of Peter, it's in the Lord Jesus. So it was God's powerful presence among them that made this early church so resilient, despite the waves of persecution and setbacks. Therefore, it's good to remind ourselves what Jesus said that he would build his church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And so they would be opposed. Satan would rise up in opposition to the church, and there would come these waves of persecution, but it wouldn't prevail against the church. It would still progress, it would still move forward, and it would still grow. Therefore, it's good to remind ourselves today that we're on the winning side. And it's an encouraging focus to have that we're not living in the days of acts, we're not living in times and seasons of revival. Nevertheless, we're still on the winning side. And we ought not to judge that by a local scene, by a local church. We ought to judge it by the church worldwide. And the church worldwide is suffering. Nigerian people are being slaughtered and even going to bury their loved ones, and then the terrorists come back and slaughter them who are trying to bury their loved ones. These things are happening throughout our world. And this is the church. We are part of the church worldwide. And this is what is going on in the church worldwide. But the church is still growing, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And in those countries where they're more persecuted, the church is growing at a greater weight. So God was with his people, and he assured them that he was with them. That's what gave them that resilience. And that's what can give you that resilience in your life as well, and in my life as well. Just to know that God is with me, not because I feel him or see him, but because he said that he would be with me. But secondly, God was with them, fulfilling his purposes in this larger section, verse 17 to 32. Great things are happening, and many are being added to the church, accompanying the great rejoicing. We have the expected opposition. But despite the activity of Satan, we can see the controlling hand of God superintending the whole situation. We have here the response of the high priest and the Sadducees in verse somewhere, 17 to 18. Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him, which is a sect of the Sadducees, they were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. Now the word for indignation means malignant jealousy or envy. These people loved prominence, the prestige and power, but they are losing their hold on this. And honestly and truly, they really don't know what to do with what's going on here. Further down in verse 33, we can see that the ministry of the apostles made them furious. So here we have another wave of persecution coming. It's greater than the previous, yet there are no signs in this chapter that these men were flagging in their zeal or questioning if God was really in control at all. They're a bit, you remember the birthday cakes you used to get with the candles on them and the candles we got years ago, and you're blowing out these candles, and by the time you get to the last one, the first one lights again. It's one of those kind of things. You just keep on going and on going. These people are a bit like that. You try to snuff them out and up they get again. So these leaders can harbor all kinds of attitudes and express them in various volatile ways, yet they can't put a stop to this movement because this is not a religious movement, this is not a movement of men and women and children, this is a movement of God, and God will fulfill his purposes through them. So they've thrown all the apostles forever in prison, which for the meantime may have given them a sense of relief. They may have been smugging themselves and thought, right, we've got this thing contained for the present, yet they didn't reckon on what's going to happen next in verse 19 and 20. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, Go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. Setting themselves against God's purposes means they are not going to win this battle. It was God's purpose that these men go and witness to Christ's resurrection. So their opposition is futile and will come to nothing. God freed them from prison. It's ironic that an angel set them free because the Sadducees didn't believe in angels. He didn't tell them to go and go to a sea house out of harm's way, but he told them to go and do the very thing that put them in prison to begin with, which was to preach about Jesus. Then they respond to this deliverance and the command of God in verse 21. And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught, just as they were told. But the high priest and those with them came and called the council together with all the elders of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. This is the greatest gift. But the point was not just to free the apostles, but to free them to fulfill God's purpose. They knew they could be possibly in for more persecution and imprisonment. Yet they held to the conviction it's far better to obey God than men. Their undaunted spirit is a bit like that of the Apostle Paul. When he decided to go to Jerusalem, knowing that trouble awaited him there, in Acts 20, 24, we read, but none of these things move me, he says, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy. And the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. They were committed to the purposes of God for their lives. And doesn't that set an example before us that whatever the cost, we should run the race that God sets before us with perseverance, with endurance, and looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ. We find it hard enough to come to church ways and Sunday. We find it virtually impossible to come to a prayer meeting. I just find these pages quite challenging. It's obviously Israel's leaders haven't got a clue. They haven't got a clue. What's happened the previous night? And they don't know what's taking place presently in the temple. Because they'd let's have a council meeting. But the men are not there. They sent the temple officers to bring them to that council meeting. And what a shock they had when they arrived. Verse 22-23. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, indeed, we find the prison door shut securely. And the guards are still there standing outside before the doors. But when we open them, there's nobody inside. It's like a Houdini trip, isn't it? We can only imagine the look on the faces of the Sanhedrin as this news reached. And they thought everything's contained, everything's resist resistant. We've got the leaders and they're in prison. It's one of those unbelievable situations. When they told them this news, you know, when you say, Could you say that again? I just need to get this straight. We're told in verse 24 how they felt about this. Now, when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priest heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. They wondered what the outcome would be regarding this movement, as even prison doers can't hold these men. Then in verse 25, someone came with the news. Do you see those men you think are in prison, and now you know they're out of prison, well, they're in the temple and they're preaching in Jesus' name. They're doing what you have forbidden them to do. So this brings into question the authority of these Jewish leaders. Obviously, following the orders of the Sanhedrin, the officers should go along, this time with their captain, greater force, greater influence, greater authority, to bring the apostles before this Jewish court. And in that verse, you can gather, these men are afraid. Because if they go heavy-handed, they fear the crowd will stone them. They're just like the Lord Jesus, who was oppressed, yet submissive. When they returned to this ruling council, we read in verse 27-28 what happened next. When they returned to this ruling council, we read there, the high priest said to Aston, saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you fill Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us. Although these people are highly revered and greatly respected in Jerusalem, that they just cannot deny what is happening here. It's far beyond them. The disdain they held for Jesus is obvious. In that they cannot speak the name of Jesus, but they just refer to him there as his name and this man. Of course, the apostles respond, as we've already highlighted, the only way they can. It wasn't out of disrespect for these leaders, but when it comes to obeying God's laws and man's laws, and when they conflict, when man's laws conflict with God's purposes, is that we just got to obey God and acknowledge the higher authority. There's no question today that we are called from the scriptures, just read the passages that are there in Timothy and Peter and in Romans 13. You can read it there, that there is authority that is permitted by God, that God has set up, and we are to obey their laws. Therefore, Christians are to be models, model citizens in this respect in a country. So this means when I go to the traffic lights, I stop when it's red. Don't you? Of course you do. Not only that, we pay our taxes and we adhere to the speed limit. We do. When it comes to the building sector, we follow protocols and all kinds of rules and regulations. We don't cut corners to save money and secure greater profits. So we shouldn't rebel against certain laws because they don't suit us. God says they're there for that purpose. And we are to obey them. So we should be good citizens, but when the law of the state conflicts with God's word, then we must obey God. So if the state says we must perform a marriage ceremony for same-sex couples or tell us we cannot preach the gospel in our buildings, but the message needs to be toned down. First of all, in those scenarios and in others, we must obey God. They have it on God's authority to proclaim the words of life. Therefore, as they are before these men, they don't waste this opportunity because they believe in the sovereign rule of God. Fear is not the controlling factor here. These men have the power to put them in prison again forever and never amen, in an earthly sense. But they don't fear that, they fear God even more. He has set them in this position, and they are to be faithful to tell the truth. Verse 30 to 32. So Peter says, the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to his right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are as witness to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. Peter points out that Christ's blood is on their hands. They're guilty. And just like the people said to Pilate at the cross, let his blood be on us and our children. They're guilty. They're guilty. Guilty yet forgiveness is promised to them. If they repent, and that is the same for us today. We are guilty as if we were there at the cross, putting the Lord Jesus to death. We are guilty because we are sinners, the Bible clearly teaches. And therefore, being guilty, the message of the gospel of forgiveness through repentance is declared to us. And that is the way that we can be accepted before God. There's no other way. So God was with them, He freed them from prison, not to save them from difficulties, not to wrap them in cotton wool, but to fulfill his purposes, which is to proclaim the gospel. God assured them he was with them. And God was with them to fulfill his purposes. God is with us too. Those of us who know Christ, that we might fulfill his purposes in this life. The center of God's purposes is the Lord Jesus. And the center of that is the gospel which we have been given to give to other people. Finally, in this shorter section, God was with them, protecting them. Verse 33 to 42. When Peter finished, we have the reaction of those men in verse 33. When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. The word furious literally means to be sawn right through. This gives us the picture that Peter's words have cut them to the heart and they're full of guilt. It's back to Acts 2. What happened in Acts 2? Same kind of thing. And I know that happened in my life. Many of us can testify to that. That God's word cut into our lives, cut across our lives, cut across the direction of our lives, cut across the principles in our lives. And maybe that's what God is doing in your life. It's sawing right through into the heart of your life. That despite your religious profession, God's word cuts through all that veneer and says, it's not about that. It's about a relationship with me. And God's word cuts right through all of that. Instead of taking the humble position and confessing their guilt and repenting of their sins, they became angry and murder is controlling them. Satan's got control of these religious people, which makes them capable of anything. Despite the hatred of these individuals, God is still in control. He's on the throne. As we now see from verse 34 following, we read about this man called Gamaliel, among the body, a Pharisee. He stood off. And being a Pharisee meant that he was a teacher of the law and he was respected by the people. The Sadducees ran the temple operation, but the Pharisees held sway with the people. So if it had been a Sadducee, they would have called for the death of these apostles. But God is in control. He instructs them then to put the apostles out. We need some time to think about this. And then it tells us in verse 35, He said to the men of Israel, Take heed to yourselves and what you intend to do regarding Israel. He's saying to himself, look, you need to watch what you're doing. You need to be very careful what you're doing. You don't need to do anything rash and radical and reactory regarding these men. In a tense situations, when passions are inflamed, it's always good to have someone there with a level head who can bring some wisdom to bear upon the situation. So he reminds them of their responsibility and calls for wisdom and restraint amid such heated emotions. He then draws from two examples in history, Theodus and Judas had followers, yet their cause came to nothing. Therefore he said in verse 38 and 39, keep away from these men and let them alone. For if this plan or of this work is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God. He says that from his experience that if something is of God, it's going to succeed. It's going to succeed no matter what you do, no matter what you try to do, no matter how much you try to oppose it, kill them, God will put more people in their place. So in verse 40, they beat them, which really means they flogged them. And some commentators say that possibly would have been 39 lashes. So it's not a wee slapping the hand like you got in the headmaster's office. This was a real beating, flogging. And then the issue, of course, the point is command. Stop teaching in the name of Jesus. Seems to be their thing, you know, they just got to say this every time, but what a waste of words it is. We may think that Gameleel could have gone further with his advice and exhorted the council to face the bigger question that's right in the front of them. That if this prospers, then it must be right. Jesus must be the Son of God, and he must be raised from the dead. Therefore, our theology and stance against Jesus is wrong, so we ought to repent. But the point of the passage and the directive of the direction of the Nara doesn't take us down that road, but presents the power of God in control of this situation, using this man to protect his people. So the chapter concludes with those words. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing. They have just been thrashed, thrashed, physically, rejoicing, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame, suffer shame for his name. And then daily into temple. And in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as a Christ. They didn't go and say, I am going not going near those people again. Wherever those leaders are, I want to be 500 miles away from no, they just went back and did what God told them to do. So the chapter concludes with the resilience of God's people, and it's down to the fact that God was with them. We can go through all kinds of stuff when you know that God is with you. Rather than being deterred, you know, they seem to be energized, don't they? You know, they think this thrashing is going to do something. It only went against them. And only energized these people all the more. Because that's what gospel ministry does. And I don't mean in the pulpit. Do you know someday, because someday you're despondent. It's a scenario. And someday you're walking down the street or you're out in your garden or whatever it is, and you meet somebody, and you've got an opportunity to share the gospel. I would say that that lifts you, if not right out of your despondency, it puts a pep in your step, as we say. It energizes you. Because that's what gospel ministry does, that's what sharing about the Lord Jesus does for a believer. It just puts a pep in your step, and I put a hunger in your heart for more of this. So they departed, rejoicing, and they carried on with the work. Resilient because God was with them. And it is a challenge to us how resilient we really are in our nice, comfortable Western world situation. How resilient we really are. Often it doesn't take much to set us back, even to knock us on the course that God wants us to follow because it's too hard and the price is too high. And I can't do that, Lord. You just can't do that. But God says this is the path I set you on, and you need to follow me with all your heart. And we need to say, I'll be with you, and I'll give you all the resources that you need.