WEBVTT 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:06.559 Welcome to the Enduring Grace Sermons Podcast. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.320 This is the home for the weekly teaching and ministry of Pastor Ben Hill. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:15.119 Our mission is to share the timeless truth of God's Word with the world in need of hope. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:21.280 For more resources, articles, and updates, visit us online at enduringgrace.com. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.480 And now, here is this week's message. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:36.960 Amen, amen. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:39.439 Great job, everybody. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:48.240 It is awesome to be in the house of the Lord, and you can taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:51.600 It is so good to be with you all this morning. 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:54.799 It's so good to have most of my voice back. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.799 It's still got its weak spots, but it is much better than it was. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:00.880 It's also great to have my whole family here. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.119 Uh, we were talking about it on the way in. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:10.480 It's been basically a month of flu and RSV in our house, and it is good to be out with people. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:22.400 And so if you're dealing with sickness and you're at home and watching us online this morning, know we're praying for you, and we miss you, and we can't wait to see you back together here with us worshiping next week. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:31.040 But also just wanted to let y'all uh know that it is March, it is already uh well into March. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:38.400 We are on our second Sunday of March, and uh Clay is going to be here in two weeks. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:39.840 Isn't that awesome? 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.680 Uh, we're so thankful for Jan and all the work that she has put in. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:48.480 Uh and we know she is excited because Clay is coming and coming quickly. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:51.120 And so be praying for them as they transition. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:58.159 Uh, we want to make sure that uh we lift them up because moving is hard, but moving with an infant is always harder. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:01.040 And so uh they've got a lot that they're trying to get done. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:08.560 They're supposed to close on their house this week, and so there is just a lot of moving parts, so just lift them up in prayer this week. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:12.879 Uh, if you have your Bibles, go ahead and turn to Acts chapter five. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:17.919 We're gonna be there this morning, and we're going to be looking at the rest of chapter five. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:41.520 We stopped uh looking at Ananias and Sapphira last week, and we saw that there was a great fear and reverence that came upon the church because of the acts of God in the church, because of the lying of Ananias and Sapphira about the full gift of what they received from the sell of their property. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:52.800 But what we're going to pick up with is we're going to see that God is continuing to move in the church through the prophet uh the apostles and Peter. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:03:01.520 And so, as we look at this text, what I want you to see this morning is simply this that the gospel is unstoppable. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:06.800 And we have a great hope in Jesus. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:13.280 And so this morning, I just want to spend just a moment reminding you of a story maybe that you're familiar with. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:22.159 If you've grew up about the same time I did, then maybe you saw the movie Balto, or maybe you should have shown that to your grandkids. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:31.360 Uh, but that movie, Balto, is inspired by a true event in January of 1925 in Nome, Alaska. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:45.039 Now, what you might not know is that in Nome, Alaska, uh, when they were going through the diphtheria that was killing children, it was one of the harshest winters that they've ever experienced. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:54.000 Now, I've been told that we've experienced harsher winters here than we've had in much uh in several years, the last two years, because we've had snow. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:57.599 And I was told we don't get snow, but that's okay. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:06.080 Um, but in this case, they were very used to snow, but they were not used to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:16.959 And so here in Gnome, Alaska, where it was minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the ice was too thick for ships to travel, and they were out of medicine. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:22.240 They were desperately in need of medicine that would save these children's lives. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:28.399 And with the winds and the intensity of the winter, it was hard for pilots to fly. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:35.759 It made it impossible during the height of this sickness that was in Gnome, Alaska. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:05:00.399 So, what they did was they derived a plan of having 20 different teams of dog sledders and mushers to rally and run a race, essentially, of time against time, to go all the way a thousand miles to Anchorage in order to get the medicine and bring it to Nome, Alaska. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:17.279 As they faced frozen limbs and exhaustion and literal walls of snow, those dogs and their mushers were able to succeed in bringing medicine to that city, saving many, many children's lives. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:26.319 And so what we see is that when people rally behind a cause, people do incredible things. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:39.360 The apostles rally behind the greatest cause, which is to bring the good news of life, eternal life, to a sick and dead world. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:42.240 And the gospel cannot be stopped. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:47.439 And so, with that said, if you have found your place in Acts chapter 5, verse 12, would you say word? 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:52.240 And would you stand in the honor of reading God's word? 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:54.480 Starting with verse 12. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:06:02.240 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles, and they were all together in Solomon's portico. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:24.079 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem, and more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on the cot on cots and mats, that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:32.000 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:42.639 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, that is the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:52.800 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.439 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:11.519 Now when the high priest came and they were with or and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the sin of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to them ha to have them brought. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:16.079 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:22.160 So they returned and reported, We found the prison securely locked, and the guards standing at the door. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:25.360 But when we opened them, we found no one inside. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:33.360 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:41.439 And someone came and told them, Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:48.800 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:08:05.519 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in the name in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:10.319 But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.879 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:22.480 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior, to give repentance to Jer to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:28.800 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.559 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:45.039 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:50.720 And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:58.559 For before these days Theodus rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.360 He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed, and came to nothing. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:09.440 After him, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:13.200 He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:21.600 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of a man, it will fail. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:24.879 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.440 You might even be found opposing God. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:36.000 So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:43.039 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:51.919 And every day in the temple and from house to house they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:10:07.360 Father God, I pray that you would allow this text to encourage us to know that you are unstoppable, that your gospel is unstoppable, and a church who follows you is unstoppable in your will. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:10.080 Lord, we love you, and in your name we pray. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:10.960 Amen. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:12.639 You may be seated. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:22.080 There are four truths of this tax that I want us to see this morning, and all four of these are true for the believer. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:26.879 And the first is simply this that you can walk in God's power. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:28.960 Did you know that you can walk in God's power? 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:35.039 We see this take place with Peter and the Apostles in the first few verses that we read. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:41.600 What we see is that Peter and the Apostles are doing many signs and wonders, and they were being regularly done. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:51.200 Now we don't go around seeing people healed because of them being able to touch our shadow, uh, and nor should they. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:11:09.919 But what we see is that God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is revealing to the people of Israel that these apostles who are preaching Christ's name has the same power given to them, the authority given to Jesus by the Holy Spirit. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:14.000 And so they are conducting themselves in a God-honoring way. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:19.279 They're giving glory to the Lord, and as a result, people are being healed. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:32.000 And we see that they are gathering regularly at Solomon's portico, which is a gathering spot in the temple uh area, and as they are gathering, they're preaching and proclaiming Jesus. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:41.759 Now, one of the things I would say is that it's interesting to me that not everyone, not all of the followers of Jesus, not all the believers join them. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:46.639 In fact, it says in verse 13, none of the rest dared join them. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:59.840 So there was a sense of fear here that's taking place as the disciples are being uh really following uh the apostles leading, these people that are being saved. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:08.960 And remember, there's over 8,000 that have been recorded that have been saved in the area, but not all of them are gathering at Solomon's Portico at the time. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.440 It says, but the people held them in high esteem. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:16.960 So they were praising them for the obedience of the apostles. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:24.159 And then in verse 14, what we see is more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:35.519 Now keep in mind, we've seen over 8,000 saved already, and what it we see is that there's even more believers being added, and a multitude of both men and women. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:49.039 The church is exploding as the prophet or these apostles and Peter and are preaching the good news about Jesus, as people are seeing the miracles that are taking place. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:13:04.559 And what we understand is that by them walking faithfully in God's uh way and in following Jesus' example, God's power is filling them and overflowing and impacting those around them. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.240 Look at verse 15. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:21.440 It says, Peter came by at least, or that uh so that when they carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, and that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:32.080 That they were hoping that just maybe Peter's shadow would be enough to have for their loved one to be changed, transformed, and healed. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:40.000 You gotta remember that uh this really started with the healing of a layman outside the gate that's called beautiful. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:49.039 And this act is a catalyst that propels the gospel because they're saying that it's by Jesus' name that we have done this work. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:54.000 And as people are being saved, they're saying it's by Jesus that this is possible. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.200 And so the message was always about Christ. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:03.679 It wasn't about themselves, but it was about where the power came from, which was Jesus Christ. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:13.519 For us in the church, what that means is simply this that we can do nothing for God's glory apart from being connected to the Lord. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:19.120 We cannot do anything for God's glory without being connected to the Lord. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.799 Think of a power strip. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:28.080 We all probably have them at our house, at least we should, and we've got some of our most precious things plugged into those power strips. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:39.840 Or if you need an outlet to have multiple or more than just two, then you plug a power strip in and you connect a few additional uh items that need electricity into the power strip. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:56.480 But here's the thing about a power strip: a power strip is useless without a power source, it has to plug in to electricity in order to distribute that electricity out into the world in our rooms, into our TVs and other devices. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:05.200 And so what we see with a power strip is that it is useless unless it's connected to its power supply. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:11.039 Christians are useless if they are not connected to Jesus Christ. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:18.799 We cannot impact others, we cannot be a useful tool to the Lord in what he has called us to. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:37.679 We cannot walk faithfully in God's will unless we are walking with Jesus, which means that we need to study our Bibles and we need to be spending time with the Lord in prayer, and we need to be faithful and obediently sharing the gospel with other people as he has called us to go, therefore, and make disciples. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:45.200 If we're not going and making disciples, we are not plugged in to the power supply. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:48.159 We're not plugged into Jesus. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:59.200 But not only is there the ability when we place our faith and trust in Jesus to walk in God's power, there's also the fact that you can trust God to provide. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:07.919 We see that God provides for the apostles and for Peter here in verse 17 through 21. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.759 And so what you end up seeing is have it you have the priests. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.159 The priests are not happy. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.960 Uh they rise up, right? 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:23.440 And all who were with him, which is the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.679 They did not like what they were seeing. 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:31.519 Now keep in mind, these are the leaders, supposed to be the leaders, spiritual leaders of Israel. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:55.440 And yet, what they are watching transpire is thousands of people, literally thousands of people, are choosing to follow these uneducated fishermen, essentially, who are preaching a name that they crucified, preaching a person that they killed because they could not stand him. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:03.039 And jealousy rises up because the people are not following them, that they are following these men. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:05.519 So they arrest the apostles. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.720 Yet again, this is the second time that at least Peter and John have been arrested. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:16.880 And so they arrest them and put them in public prison, which is not a pleasant place. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.680 And so these men are now arrested, put in public prison. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:26.960 They're sitting in jail, and they have a visitor that comes to them. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:38.960 Now, I just want you to imagine just for a moment that you're in a dark jail cell that's locked, and all of a sudden before you is a person, an angel of the Lord, standing before you. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:41.839 That might be a little bit startling at first. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:44.400 You might go, whoa, what's happening? 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.160 You how'd you get in here? 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:49.279 But keep in mind, they've also spent time with Jesus. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:52.880 So maybe their first response was, Oh, the Lord has sent you. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.319 What is next? 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:57.759 And this is what the angel of the Lord does. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:09.279 It says that the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, Now keep in mind, most of us probably would immediately go, okay, he's getting me out of jail. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:13.039 I'm gonna go home and just lay low for a little while. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:23.599 But no, the instructions of the angel of the Lord say this go and stand in the temple and speak to the people, all the words of this life. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.079 You know the thing that you just got jailed for, go do it again. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:30.319 It's crazy fun, right? 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:37.440 Like the angel of the Lord comes and goes, Hey, apostles, y'all are doing such a good job obeying the Lord and testifying. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.039 Keep it up, go do it again. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:46.400 I'm letting you out so that I can provide a way for you to continue to do the mission and the ministry that I've called you to do. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.759 And so, what do they do? 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:56.720 It says, when they they broke, they were back at the temple preaching the same name, teaching the same name as they were before. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:02.400 They were obedient because they understood that God would provide for them. 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:11.440 Now, oftentimes our world around us, they misunderstand what it means to say that if you trust God, God will provide. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:22.880 Sometimes they connect that to complete and total financial uh freedom in the sense of you're gonna be the wealthiest person on your block, you're gonna have the best life ever, but that's not what it's talking about. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:34.799 What it's talking about is God will provide for your needs in the season that he needs to provide for you so that you can give him glory and praise as you faithfully pursue him. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:40.559 It's not a get rich scheme, it's not a have the best life now scheme. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:47.680 It is to be faithful so that you can have the blessings of seeing God move in your life. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:57.039 Now, sometimes it means that God's going to provide financial gifts that are above and beyond our needs, but it's for the purpose of blessing others. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:03.119 It's for glorifying Him to be faithful and to meet the needs of others. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:05.599 And so here the disciples are being faithful. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:18.079 They are obeying the Lord, and they are coming out of the jail, going into the temple for the purpose of preaching the good news of Jesus. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:26.799 And so the high priest came the next morning, and those who were with him, and they called together the council, saying, Okay, we got these men in jail. 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:33.680 It is time to do our ruling on them and make sure that they shut up because it didn't work last time. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.599 Let's do it a little more harsh this time. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:37.920 So let's get together and let's figure this out. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:47.039 And so they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent the prison or sent to the prison to have them brought. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:57.119 So essentially they get together, they get everybody, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, all of the leaders of Israel, and they're saying, okay, it's time to have our time with these men. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.319 Go get them. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:01.440 And what we will see is that they're not there because we know where they are. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:03.920 They're in the temple preaching. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:08.480 Now, here's the thing is that how many of you have ever done an escape room? 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.079 Okay, we got a few. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:16.319 So, an escape room is simply this you pay to get locked in a room and try to figure out how to get out. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.640 So it's kind of fun. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.599 I enjoy those things. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:23.839 It's like a giant puzzle that's like you've got moving things, you've got to get creative. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.880 It's a lot of fun. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:28.880 And sometimes it's really hard to get out, and sometimes you will fail. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:35.119 But here's the thing with escape rooms you're trapped until you solve the problem, the puzzle, the problem. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:38.079 But here are the apostles. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:41.440 They have the problem, they're in jail. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:47.039 There is no puzzle to get them out of jail, they're just in there. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:49.279 But the Lord provides the answer. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:56.400 It'd be like it being in an escape room, and the person that owns the escape room coming in and opening the door, and you go, Why did I pay$30 to do this? 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.119 Like, right? 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.279 Like I wasted money, I can't do that. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.960 Like Lock me back in. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.720 I want to get out on my own. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:08.240 But here's the thing is that in life, sometimes it's like in a giant escape room. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:11.519 We try to figure out how to get out constantly. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:16.400 We're trying to figure out, okay, what can I do to get out of this situation? 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:23.440 But the reality is we need to stop and pray and allow the Lord to move in our midst. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:30.079 It is not a matter of figuring out how to get out, it's a matter of asking the Lord to come and provide a way out. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:35.440 Because only the Lord can open and shut the doors of life. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:43.680 And the disciples understood that and they followed the Lord and walked out as they followed him faithfully. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:56.319 But it really boils down to the fact that when we are obedient and we trust God to provide, we choose like the disciples did, to obey God, not people. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:00.240 Which is what we see unfold in the next sequence of verses. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:16.240 So you have the council, they're getting together when the officers came back and they are giving their report that they found the prison securely locked, the guards standing at the doors, like they're supposed to, but when they opened the doors, there was nobody inside. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:26.799 Just imagine being that council, hearing a report that sounded very similar to some extent to Jesus' resurrection. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:32.960 Remember, there were guards outside the tomb, but the tomb was rolled away, and Jesus walked out while the guards were there. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:40.799 Here, the disciples walk out with guards present and a door that was securely locked. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:46.640 There was no way out except by God's providence, God's grace. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:50.559 And so here they are going, okay, this might sound a little familiar. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.839 And so the captain of the temple and the chief priest heard these words. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:24:00.880 They were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what would come, what would happen because of this. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:04.640 Basically, oh man, here we go again. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:06.559 These guys are different. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:09.279 What can we do to fix it? 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.160 Where are they? 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:17.039 They've probably gone long, far away from here, is what they're probably thinking in the back of their mind. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:19.279 But then came a report. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:26.079 And the report was look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:29.680 It's like these guys don't know when to quit. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:38.319 We jailed them, they get out for free, apparently, and now they're back in the same spot that they were before, saying the same things that they were before. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:40.160 What is wrong with these people? 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.119 So what do they do? 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:47.680 The chief priest goes out with the, or captain of the temple goes out with the officers and they go get them. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:52.559 But they don't get them by force because they're afraid of the people. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:25:00.400 They're afraid that they themselves would be the ones stoned to death because of arresting these men. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:06.960 Instead, they negotiate, and I can just see Peter going, okay, cool, let's go do this again. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.680 That's fine. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:09.200 Let's go talk. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:19.359 And walking gracefully, lovingly, for the purpose of sitting before, to give an account of what's taking place. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.200 Look at what it says. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:37.920 And when they brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, We strictly charge you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:41.279 Essentially, you keep sharing this name of Jesus. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:51.039 People keep receiving it, accepting it, following it, and you keep blaming us over and over for killing the dude. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.400 Stop it. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:54.000 I don't like it. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.400 You're making us look bad, is essentially what the priest is saying. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.119 You're taking people that follow us away from us. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.240 It's not cool. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.440 Stop it. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:11.680 Can't we oftentimes get a little perturbed when attention gets drawn away from us in our flesh? 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:14.079 Isn't that a real temptation? 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:24.640 That's the temptation these Pharisees and Sadducees are having, is that their attention is being taken away from them and being put on the true Savior of the world. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:39.839 And so here they are scolding them, and Peter doesn't know when to put his or to close his mouth, apparently, according to the text, because he goes straight into it because he's obeying the Lord. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.119 Look at what he says. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:43.200 We must obey God rather than men. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:46.000 He goes, this is the reason why I can't shut my mouth. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:48.240 This is the reason why I won't shut my mouth. 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:53.200 It's because we must obey God rather than men in verse 29. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:59.119 And then he says this the God of our Father raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.480 He goes, you know what? 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:02.960 You're so mad about us talking about how you killed him. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.400 I'm going to bring it back up. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.000 I love you so much. 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.440 You killed him. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.200 You killed him. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:11.759 He's like, man, what are you doing? 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.039 What are you thinking? 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.640 Like, get it through your head. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.319 You killed Jesus. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:20.079 But there's also good news that follows it. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.400 He says that God exalted him. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:27.440 Or the God, our Father, verse 30, raised Jesus. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:30.319 So this Jesus has been raised from the grave. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:34.640 That good news means that your killing of him wasn't permanent. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:44.799 And then verse 31, God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:46.480 This Jesus that you killed, guess what? 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.759 He's not dead anymore. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:50.400 And he is the savior of the world. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:52.640 He is at the right hand of God the Father. 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:58.559 He is the forgiver of sins, and he provides righteousness to all who repent. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:05.599 You can have salvation if you will repent, is the message of Peter to this council. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:09.759 And he says, we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:19.200 And here's the reminder to the church is that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Jesus. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:26.079 Every Christian who places their faith in Jesus is given the Holy Spirit. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:44.799 Which means that we too are witnesses, as were the apostles, of the good news that Jesus Christ lives, that he died, and that he provides forgiveness and repentance to all who confess Jesus as Lord. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:47.519 Have you confessed Jesus as Lord? 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:50.000 Have you repented and turned to Christ? 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:54.720 Are you taking your faith seriously? 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:59.839 Do you trust and obey God rather than people? 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:07.039 There's a great illustration of what it looks like to trust God rather than people in the life of Desmond Daws. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:17.039 Now you might not know Desmond Daws' name by his name, but you might be more familiar with Hacksaw Ridge, which is the inspiration for Desmond Daws. 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:21.279 And during World War II, Desmond Daws believed that it was wrong. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:27.519 He was convictionally convicted that it was wrong for him to carry a weapon and take the life of another. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:33.519 And so he, despite being in the army, refused to carry a firearm. 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:40.559 He refused to kill people despite the immense pressure and mockery from his superiors. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:47.599 And as a result, he chose to obey God rather than his superiors. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:30:06.079 And when it came time to be on the battlefield of Okinawa, what ended up happening was he was able to focus on saving people's lives and ended up saving 75 different lives on the battlefield because of his conviction. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:10.480 But here's the thing: those people still one day would die. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:19.119 How many of us are so focused on winning one more person for Christ so that they might have eternal life? 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:21.759 That we keep going after people? 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:32.960 Or are we more prone to get caught up in our own fears of maybe even not just people, but our own insecurities of being able to share our faith? 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:40.960 Well, that we simply ignore what we've been called to do, which is take the gospel to one more person for Jesus' glory. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:45.039 We've been called to go after one more. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:31:06.240 And if we would go after one more person who is on the death, fill or filled nearly dead, like Desmond Dahl, how much more important is it to go after those who are living alive and they are truly spiritually dead and need Jesus? 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:12.559 We need to pursue people and obey God, not people. 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:21.440 But the fourth and final way or truth that we see in this text is that you can know God's will prevails. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:28.640 This is great news to us is that ultimately God's will will always prevail. 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:33.839 Look at the next few verses of 33 through 42. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:39.279 What we see happen is the council is enraged and wants to kill them. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:46.319 They are so furious because this man, Peter, keeps bringing up the same thing over and over, no matter what they do. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:50.960 And so they're ready to kill Peter and the apostles with him. 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:55.200 But a Pharisee in the council speaks up. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:00.079 And he says, Hey, I need you to listen, guys. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:03.039 Let's send these men out before we do anything. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:05.759 And let's talk about what's happening. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.240 Let's talk about it for just a moment. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:11.119 And what does Gamaliel say? 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:16.880 He says, This men of Israel, take care what you're about to do with these men. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:21.440 He says, slow down, stop, think about this. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:30.079 And he goes back to two different events that were recorded, and they knew by heart. 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:32.079 The first is Theodus. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:44.240 Theodus was a rebel, sort of, so to speak, and he says he rose up claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about 400, joined him, and he was killed. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:48.000 And all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:50.480 He goes, This guy, he was a nobody. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:52.960 He claimed to be somebody, but he was a nobody. 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:55.920 When he died, everything just stopped. 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:59.680 But there's also another guy that we need to talk about. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:01.759 His name is Judas of Galilee. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:04.400 This guy also rose up in the days of the census. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:08.400 And he goes, hey, when he rose up, people followed him also. 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:11.519 But when he died, you know what happened? 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:14.960 His followers also dispersed and came to nothing. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:20.400 But this Jesus guy, it's different. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:25.920 He says, after, or so in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:31.359 For if this plan or this undertaking is a man, it will fail. 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:43.440 He goes, hey, if these guys are doing it out of man's will, it will ultimately falter and fall because their leader's already dead, as far as he was concerned. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.200 But he was alive. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:52.079 And then he says, But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:55.920 You might even be found opposing God. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:00.960 And so the council heeds his advice and they decide not to kill the men. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:23.920 Even a lost man on in a Pharisee recognize the fact that these men would either falter and fail, or if it was God's will, that they would prevail, that they would succeed, because no one can stop God's will. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.519 So what do they do? 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:32.960 They call the apostles in, they beat them and send them out to telling them, do not speak of Jesus' name anymore. 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.719 And you know what they do? 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:38.239 They leave the council worshiping. 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:46.400 It says they were rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for his name. 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:48.559 Jesus' name. 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:51.039 And then after that, you know what they did? 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.480 Every day? 00:34:52.880 --> 00:35:01.840 They went back to the temple from house to house, preaching and teaching that the Christ is Jesus. 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:03.679 It did no good. 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:07.679 Beating them, jailing them, threatening them. 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:12.480 Because God was with them. 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:17.920 Are you trusting God to move in your life powerfully? 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:27.599 To move in ways that is unstoppable because you are faithfully pursuing his will in your life. 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:31.679 Are you trusting the Lord? 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:38.880 See, the Pharisees and Sadducees, they tried to throw a big boulder in a river that could not stop. 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:45.039 If you go to the river and you throw a boulder, doesn't matter how really how big that boulder is. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:59.519 You could block the whole waterway with that boulder, but eventually that water is going to start seeping around out of its banks, finding back where it needs to go so it can go to its ultimate destination into the ocean. 00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:07.760 Satan tries to throw boulders in the ways of God's children, the church. 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:22.000 But when the church is focused on Christ, the Holy Spirit removes all those boulders and gives you the ability to walk faithfully, prevailing, because our God is unstoppable. 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:36.320 You can rest assured, Christian, that if you pursue Christ, your life will give him glory and praise, and his will for your life is truly unstoppable. 00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:45.280 But in order to receive that blessing, you must first have a relationship with Jesus. 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:49.360 This morning, maybe you do not have that relationship. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:55.440 Maybe you've never surrendered your life to Christ and received the grace of forgiveness. 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.440 It is really simple. 00:36:57.760 --> 00:37:02.079 All you have to do this morning is simply believe and repent. 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:11.760 Believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose from the grave so that you might have life. 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:18.639 And repent that you are a sinner desperately need and set of saving grace. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:21.760 With every head bowed and eye closed this morning.