Sunday, January 29, 2012

From Acts to Revelation: Part 14 - Apostles Persecution


From Acts to Revelation
Part 14 – Apostles Persecution
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION
By this time in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, they have been instructed by Christ before the ascension, obeyed His command and received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, healed the lame, arrested for preaching, released and warned not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus any more, and returned to doing what the Lord commanded them.

Now we will see that the persecution continues against them by the jealous leaders of the Sanhedrin. Sadducee and  Pharisees continue to squash the teachings of Jesus Christ, and punish any who preach in His name.

If you were arrested, imprisoned, whipped, and told not to say another word about Jesus, would you still share the Gospel?

How about if none of that stood in your way, would you share it then?

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 5:17-42
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
   When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.
 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.35 Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

I.       ARRESTED … AGAIN
1.      Arrested and put in jail by man
1.      Worldly things imprison us.
2.      Scripture tells us that sin is our master, and enslaves us.
3.      We are confined by our sin, forced to live within its grasp.
1.      Ask someone who is addicted, how free they really are.
2.      Ask someone who is imprisoned with chains of fear, anger, animosity, greed, selfishness, hatred, jealousy how free they are to live.

2.      Released and set free by God
1.      A ministering angel came to aid them.
2.      This is one of many angels who serve as ministering Spirits to Believer's.
3.      Hebrews 1:14  Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
4.      This is probably where we get the term, “Guardian Angel.”
5.      This angel released the Apostles from prison without waking any of the guards.

3.      Instructed by the Angel of the Lord
1.      Remember, angel literally means, “Messenger of God.”
2.      After releasing the Apostles, this Messenger of God gave them instruction in verse 20, “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
3.      What message? The full message of this new life
1.      Where sin locks you in, the Lord opens the door
2.      Where you were once a slave, now you are a free man in Jesus Christ!
3.      You do not have to be trapped by your sin
1.      slave to alcohol
2.      slave to drugs
3.      slave to pornography
4.      slave to anger
5.      slave to hate
6.      You can be set free by the Lord today!

4.      They returned to preaching and teaching Jesus is the Messiah
1.      The Apostles obeyed the angels instruction.
2.      How did they know that this angel was sent by God and his message was from God?
1.      Because it passed the test.
2.      Not because they were set free from the cell...any man with a key could have done that.
3.      BUT, the instruction from the angel lined up with what Jesus had told the Apostles to do with His own mouth...preach and teach the people about Jesus the messiah.
3.      The angel did not tell the Apostles anything that God did not already tel them.
4.      So they returned to what Christ had originally instructed them to do.

II.    INTEROGATED AND EXAMINED
1.      The high-priest questioned them
1.      He asked them, did we not instruct you against this?

2.      Peter and the Apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than man.”

3.      Peter then continues to explain that what they preach and teach is the truth.
1.      30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

4.      When they heard this, they became furious, and wanted to put the Apostles all to death.
1.      These teachers of the law, who were supposed to know ad understand God's word, were nothing more than selfish, self-centered haters, whom Jesus called the church of Satan.
2.      He also called the Sanhedrin, the children of the devil.
3.      They follow their father, who was a liar and murderer from the beginning.

5.      But liars and murderers can see the truth, and chose to accept it!
1.      We see one man step up to defend truth among the Sanhedrin.
2.      Gamaliel stood and asked that the Apostles be removed from the court so he could address the Sanhedrin.

III. REASON, FLOGGED AND RELEASED
1.      Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, addressed the Sanhedrin.

2.      Men of Israel, consider carefully what you do to these men
1.      Some time ago, Theudas appeared and claimed to be something, and 400 rallied with him. He was killed and his followers dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
2.      After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census, and a band of people followed him in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers scattered.

3.      Gamaliel used some common sense here about uprisings, saying, “Look, Jesus too was killed, now wait and see what happens.”

4.      “Therefore, leave these men alone! Let them go!”
1.      Reasoning: “If what they do is of human origin (as in the two examples), then it too will fail. But, if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men, and you will only find yourself fighting against God!”
2.      Good Logic: This statement was made approximately 2,000 years ago...are there still followers of Jesus the Messiah?

5.      His speech persuaded them...somewhat.

6.      The Sanhedrin flogged the Apostles, warned them again about preaching in the name of Jesus, and let them go.


IV.  THE APOSTLES RESPONSE TO ALL OF THIS
1.      To the cowardly and unjust beatings they received
1.      The Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name.
2.      Have you ever suffered prison, beatings, any such thing for His name?
3.      What persecution do you actually face in this day and age?
4.      When you suffer that persecution because of your belief, do you rejoice?
5.      Do you allow that persecution to keep you from spreading the Gospel?

2.      To the ignorant and pointless instruction to stop preaching and teaching about Jesus the Messiah
1.      Verse 42 tells us, they returned to the Temple Court DAILY
2.      Boldly and properly disregarding their illegal judges command
3.      They continued to preach that Jesus was the Promised Messiah.

CLOSING
The Apostles had already been arrested a few times, put in jail, interrogated, flogged, or beaten with a whip or a rod, and instructed not to speak of Jesus again. However, they immediately returned to the temple courts, and going from house to house preaching and teaching that Jesus is the Messiah.

Would you speak the name of Jesus after this?

What about now? What are you facing that is so terrifying, that you do not share the Gospel of Salvation with people around you every day?

We need to evaluate ourselves, and ask the question in light of today's scripture.

Am I still imprisoned by my sin, enslaved, waiting to be released by an Angel?  Am I freed from my sin, but afraid of persecution, so I stay silent?  Or, am I free, and fearless in the strength of the Lord sharing the Truth of scripture with all, and rejoice when I am persecuted for His name!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

From Acts to Revelation - Part 13: Apostles Heal Many


From Acts to Revelation
Part 13 – Apostles Heal Many
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

The Apostles continue to minister to the people, and many signs wonders and miracles are following them.

Although they have been warned, and taunted, punished and locked up, they continue to serve Jesus Christ and tell of the things in which they have seen and heard.

Do you, a follower of Christ, a believer in God's Word, stand so strong against opposition in life?

Are you continuing to serve, regardless of what is taking place around you, or are you allowing the things of this world to have all of your attention, thus robbing the lord of your service?

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 5:12-16
 12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

I.       THE APOSTLES PERFORMED SIGNS AND WONDERS
1.      God uses signs, wonders and miracles to distinguish His messengers from others.
1.      The prophets of the Old Testament had them to show they were the true messengers of God.

2.      Moses parted the Red Sea by his obedience to the command of God.
3.      Not every follower of God in the Old Testament can do this simply because they are a follower of God.

4.      Moses, along with the signs and wonders and miracles that followed him, were to signify to God's people that God had given Moses the message of the Covenant, and he (Moses), was to be trusted as a true messenger of God's.

2.      God used signs, wonders and miracles to distinguish His messengers with the New Covenant as well.
1.      The Apostles were specifically chosen by Jesus to be the prophets of the New Covenant.

2.      To set them apart as the ones with authority from God to teach His message of this new covenant, they had signs, wonders and miracles that no one else could imitate.

3.      Not all of the Disciples showed signs, wonders and miracles.

4.      In fact, everywhere in the New Testament that it talks about signs, wonders and miracles as far as the message of the New Covenant is concerned, it only talks about Jesus, and the Apostles.

3.      God still performs these signs, wonders and miracles, but they take place through the means of prayer, and the working of God through the Holy Spirit in the form of Spiritual Gifts.
1.      We no longer see the signs, wonders and miracles all coming from a single person, because the message of the New Covenant has been brought to man, through Jesus and the workings of the Apostles.

2.      God did this in the Old testament to bring His Covenant through the prophets.

3.      God did this in the New Testament to bring His New covenant through Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

4.      And God will do this again, in the middle of tribulation, when God brings His two prophets to the world to preach the message one last time for anyone who will listen.

4.      And to prove that these two are really sent by God, and not just people claiming to be, they will have signs, wonders and miracles that no on else can imitate. This is how God establishes His authoritative messengers.

5.      We see in the scriptures that the message was being preached by the Apostles, and they continued to do signs, wonders and miracles, thus proving the message of the New Covenant they brought, was truly from God.


II.    NO ONE ELSE JOINED THEM
1.      In verse 13-14, we see the scripture state that, “No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”
1.      This speaks of the fact that no one else was added to the number of the Apostles, but rather, all those who believed were added to the number of the Church.

2.      This scripture negates the teaching of some belief systems that state that there is Apostolic succession, or the powers, signs and wonders as well as the authority to make foundational statements to the faith, are passed down from Apostle to Apostle.
3.      The scripture clearly states, all those who believed were added to the Church, and none were added to the Apostles.

2.      Once the foundation had been established by God through Jesus Christ and the Apostles for the New Covenant, there was no longer a need for Apostles. The foundation had been laid, and the Word of God given.

3.      We continue today, in the power of the Holy Spirit, who through the Spiritual Gifts of God, give us Pastors to lead and teach, and for the signs, wonders and miracles, they too come through the members of the Body of Christ, by means of the Holy Spirit, to build and strengthen the body of believer's through fellowship.

4.      God also continues to work through prayer, and our supplications.


III. ALL WHO CAME WERE HEALED
1.      A true sign that someone has the authority to speak the foundational belief system with authority from God is by the signs and wonders and miracles.
1.      We have some today who call themselves Prophets, and Apostles, but are nothing more than men and women who have deceived themselves and misunderstood the Word of God.

2.      Not all are charlatans, not all purposely deceive God's children, but they have lost sight of the Truth of God's Word, which tells us, there are no more Apostles, and the Disciples are to use prayer, and the Spiritual Gifts we are given by God's Holy Spirit.

2.      Some of these people have huge events, promising healing, miracles, as well as signs and wonders, trying to prove their authoritative teachings.
1.      Most of which later fall because of pride, arrogance, greed, etc...

2.      Because they were NOT there for God, but themselves.

3.      The scripture here tells a story, that cannot be imitated, in verse 16 we read, “Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.”

1.      ALL OF THEM WERE HEALED!
2.      Not most of them, or some of them, but ALL.





CLOSING
God establishes a select few to represent Him and His covenant, in the Old testament as well as the New, setting them apart from all others with powers, signs, wonders and miracles that no one else can imitate, proving they are the authoritative foundation for His Covenant.

We, as God's followers, need to better understand who we are, and where we stand in God's plan, so that we can effectively serve Him in the manner in which He has enabled us through His Holy Spirit.

If we try to act outside of this boundary, we will fail, we will become discouraged, and we will lose faith in the power and ability of God, which will then lead to us losing hope.

There are still miracles today, healing, signs and wonders, and I am not talking about Jesus' face appearing on paneling, statues that cry blood or Mary's face on a burnt piece of toast.

Our God is a powerful God, who is in control, and who shows Himself by flooding an entire planet to wipe out sin, opening up the earth to swallow priests of Baal, a God who has fireballs rain down from the heavens to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, a God who shakes the earth destroying entire nations at His Word, a God who saved all of humankind by an act of selflessness and sacrifice.

Not a God who places cartoon images of a woman who has no business being worshiped on to a piece of bread, or a hippies face on the bark of a tree that resembles an artists rendition of what the Lord looked like, painted 300 years after He walked the earth.

This mediocre representation of who God is, reflects our societies mediocre awe and petty reverence for the Creator of the universe.

They want to see who God truly is, then we, the followers of Jesus Christ, member of the Body of Christ, and the only ones here to represent God's Holy Word and His Church, NEED to discover our Spiritual Gifts, and start living them in our everyday lives, so that others will witness our Lord first-hand in our love for others, and they will witness God's powers in our fruits and gifts.