Can't Stop The Truth

CAN’T STOP THE TRUTH

Acts 5:33-42

S: Evangelism

C: Gamaliel’s counsel under God’s control

Pr: GOD KEEPS THE MOMENTUM GOING.

?: How?

KW: Movements

TS: We will find in the narrative found in Acts 5:33-42 three movements that describe the response to the truth being lived out in the church.

Type: Narrative

The ____ movement is…

I. OUT OF CONTROL (33)

II. OUT OF HIS MIND (34-40)

III. OUT ON THE TOWN (41-42)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

We are to speak the truth

We have confidence that God keeps the Word going forth

Version: ESV

RMBC 31 July 05 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Pain: you’re a little pane

It was a pastor’s first Sunday and he was presenting the children’s message. The sanctuary in the new church had some magnificent stained glass windows, so his message centered on how each person is called of God to help make up the whole picture of life (the life of the community of the faithful). Like the pictures in the windows, it takes many little panels of glass to make the whole picture.

And then he said, "You see each one of you is a little pane." And then pointing to each child, "You’re a little pane. And you’re a little pane. And you’re a little pane. And..."

It took a few moments before he realized why everyone was laughing so hard.

Perhaps he was speaking a truth that he did not intend to say (at least not on his first Sunday).

Sometimes the truth slips out.

Other times, it is hard to say.

Have you ever had a hard time communicating the truth?

Perhaps you are afraid of how it would be taken.

Perhaps you are afraid that when you say what is true you will be rejected.

Perhaps you are afraid that someone will not be your friend anymore.

TRANSITION:

When we come to the book of Acts, it seems the apostles did not have this problem.

1. The apostles were conveying the truth clearly.

And it was having a result.

They were speaking the truth about Jesus, and people were becoming Christians.

In fact, the church was growing like crazy.

Thousands upon thousands were being added during those first few months.

It was happening because they were speaking the message about Jesus where the people were.

The church was not perfect, though.

As we studied earlier this month, we discovered that hypocrisy raised its ugly head when…

2. Ananias and Sapphira faked the truth.

During those early days, the church had a new Spirit-given dynamic.

Those that had needs were met by those who had more means.

People were being generous because no one wanted to see a brother or sister in need.

So Ananias and Sapphira did what many other believers were doing.

They sold a piece of property with the intention of helping those that had less.

But when they sold the property, they pretended to bring the whole price to the apostles.

Instead, they kept a portion for themselves, even though they said they were giving everything.

They wanted to appear generous without being generous.

Peter told them that they could not fool the Holy Spirit like that, and they died on the spot.

You see, God does not want us messing around with the truth.

He wants us speaking it.

And He wants us living it.

He has given us the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit who guides us into truth.

We are not to abuse it by being liars in what we say or do.

Early on, the church proved it was not perfect.

It showed that it would still have to deal with sin.

But the Holy Spirit still went to work in their midst.

Miracles were happening, because…

3. The Spirit brings the truth to life.

Thankfully, the incident of Ananias and Sapphira was not the end of the story.

God kept working.

People that were sick and afflicted were healed.

People with evil spirits were released.

And people heard that God was doing a new thing through Jesus who was recently executed on a cross and rose from the grave.

There were those, however, who could not deal with all this…

4. The Jewish leaders couldn’t handle the truth.

These were men who were having trouble dealing with the truth.

It was happening all around them, without their permission.

So they send the apostles to jail, only to have them miraculously escape.

The apostles then went into hiding (right?)…

Yes, right in the middle of the temple courts where anybody could find them, still speaking about Jesus.

When they come back in front of the Senate, the leaders are appalled when Peter says, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” and they were not going to keep quiet about Jesus.