Witness: Glorifies #3 Series

We began a conversation two weeks ago about what gives us meaning in this life and I suggested that the question is actually a mute point for those who call themselves Christian because if we believe that Christ came, died and rose again then we must also live it. To live out this belief we are call to become a witness for Christ. An impossible role without the power of God offered through the Holy Spirit.

We then prepared our selves for this by inviting everyone present to commit or re-commit themselves to Him through the acceptance of the Holy Spirit. The hope was for a fresh anointing on our community - an anointing on the scale of what happened in Jerusalem when the gift of the Holy Spirit arrived. Last week we continued the conversation by discussing the empowerment that comes as a result of our invitation to accept the Holy Spirit and his power to accomplish the mission before us.

This week I'd like to continue the conversation by declaring the work of the Holy Spirit is always and without question to glorify our God. This week we asked everyone via email, internet site and Facebook to finish reading where we left off last week in Acts 3:11 through the Chapter 5:16. The scriptures offer the second preaching of Peter, a warning from Sanhedrin, words of defiance by the apostles, the beginning of true community and a drop dead moment that can puzzle even the greatest legalist among us.

So we are going to pick up in Acts chapter 5:17. While you turn there, let me set the stage. The word was getting around town about the disciples of Jesus. The disciples had it going on! People began to flock to them. The Spirit was so active that healings happening just by shadow of Peter crossing someone's body. Of course, this created a great amount of jealousy from the same religious leaders who orchestrated Christ's death. I'm sure they were thinking: “What do we have to do to get rid of this sect of Judaism?" They are going to ruin everything for us.

v17-21

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They 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 all about 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.

The word jealousy here is not used lightly. The leaders were getting worried they were losing influence over the people. So they did what power and authority does when confronted, they try to contain it. However, God would have none of it. He frees them but not to run away but to stand-up an be counted. They obeyed.

v.22-24

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 at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

The Jewish leaders were confident they had stopped the contagion. They came to work around 10, figuring a quick trial would take place and this sect would be tried and cast aside. So when they get to work only to discover that it's going to be one of those days, They wonder, "now what?"

v.25- 28

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 The apostles were brought in and made to 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.”

When power is challenged they react as they always have. They send in the muscle. The guards go and retrieve the disciples without incident. Their fears are setting the stage for a showdown. This is where it gets interesting.

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”