Shake The Building Series

SHAKE THE BUILDING

Text: Acts 4:23-31

Introduction

1. Illustration: John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a sea-change from the past; the wind is no longer on our back but in our face. This is creating a cultural climate in the West in which persecution of Jesus’s followers is happening.” (C.S Lewis Institute Persecution)

2. The persecution of the Church is nothing new. It has been happening since the earliest days of the church. However, our response must be one that honors Jesus.

3. We can take the example of Peter and John as the illustration of how we must respond.

4. Read Acts 4:23-31

Proposition: The way to deal with persecution is through the power of prayer!

Transition: First, we must…

A. Acknowledge The God is in Control (23-28).

1. O Sovereign Lord

1. It’s important that we take notice of what Peter and John did after they were threatened by the council. Look with me at v. 23, “As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.

a. When they were threatened by the council the apostles didn’t run and hide nor did they complain that they were being persecuted.

b. No, they went to the church. They joined with other believers and told them what had happened.

c. They spontaneously joined in prayer because they knew that if God could create the universe, he could save them from their persecutors.

d. They believed that God is sovereign over heaven and earth.

2. In v. 24 Luke tells us, “When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.”

a. He tells us that the believers “joined their voices together.”

b. That word “together” means “to be in agreement, and to have one mind and purpose.”

c. Interestingly, of the 12 times that word appears in the NT, it appears 11 times in the Book of Acts.

d. It shows us that the sign of a Spirit-Filled church is that they are unified.

e. They prayed “O, Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.”

f. They recognized that the Lord, the Creator, is sovereign over all the earth, and the Creator is more powerful than the created.

2. Then in vv. 25-26, their prayer continued. “you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’”

a. They prayed the Scripture, and they referenced King David, and if there was anyone who knew about persecution it was David.

b. In his lifetime he had people from other nations who chased after him, his own king Saul chased after him, and even his own son chased after him.

c. David recognized that the plans of evil people are futile compared to the power of the sovereign Lord.

3. Then they recognized that they were in good company. “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.”

a. Even Jesus himself was persecuted by these same religious leaders. Harod Anitpas and Pilate the Roman governor had conspired against Jesus the Messiah.

b. However, they also acknowledge that this was all a part of God’s sovereign will.

c. It was Jesus’ mission all the time to go to the cross, and God had merely used these evil men to accomplish this task.

d. Jesus had told them when he was with them, “Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.” (Jn 15:20).

e. Like the apostle’s, we need to remember that if they persecuted Jesus, they would persecute us.

f. But remember, you’re in good company!

B. God of Israel as Their Helper

1. Illustration: Author Eugene Peterson says in Reversed Thunder, "While conflicts raged between good and evil, prayers went up from devout bands of 1st century Christians all over the Roman empire. Massive engines of persecution and scorn were ranged against them. They had neither weapons nor votes. They had little money and no prestige." But they did have prayer. And that prayer helped shape the course of history.