Text: Acts 5:17-33, Title: Unstoppable Believers, Date/Place: NRBC, 9/9/07, AM
A. Opening illustration: Around the world today Christians are being persecuted for their faith. More than 70 million Christians have been martyred for their faith since 33 AD. This year an estimated 160,000 believers will die at the hands of their oppressors and over 200 million will be persecuted, arrested, tortured, beaten or jailed. In many nations it is illegal to own a Bible, share your faith, change your faith or allow children under 18 to attend a religious service. Son Jong Nam, an underground Christian in North Korea, has spent more than a year in prison, awaiting public execution. He risked his life returning to North Korea to preach the gospel and VOM contacts believe he is still alive, although contact is limited.
B. Background to passage: A freshly purified, empowered, and growing church was perceived as a threat to the established leadership in Jerusalem. And so as the church grew, the Sanhedrin Council grew increasingly fearful and angry with this new sect. So, they continue to make vain attempts to silence this new movement.
C. Main thought: Our account today demonstrates the boldness of the believers in the early church.
A. Bold Defiance (v. 17-28)
1. Jealousy and anger are powerful emotions, especially when fueled by pride and fear. And so the Sanhedrin threw the apostles in prison again for the night preparing to deal with them in the morning. The Angel of the Lord miraculously set them free, and commissioned them to get up to the temple courts and teach the people in the morning—to do exactly what got them thrown into prison and warned not to speak in His name anymore! And they did it!
2. Ex 1:17, Dan 3:17-18, 6:10
3. Illustration: Pastor Zhang Rongliang was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison. According to China Aid Association the July 4 verdict was issued by Zhongmu County People’s Court. Pastor Zhang Rongliang, a prominent Chinese house-church leader, was arrested in a rented apartment at Xuzhai village the afternoon of December 1, 2004. Zhang already had spent 12 years in prison for his faith during five separate detentions. He experienced harsh torture, including electric shock, during his previous prison terms. In 1556 in Stratford-le-Bow thirteen men and women were condemned to be burned at the stake for heresy. They were separated into two groups within the prison. The sheriff not wanting to have them burned, went to one group and told them that the other group had recanted, and would be spared, and that they should follow suit, but they told him that their faith was in Christ crucified alone. Then he went to the other group and did the same, and they responded that their faith was in Christ and His faithful word. Neither would budge. So on the day appointed they were all brought out and they rejoiced together, went up to the three stakes set before them, kissed the stakes and embraced them. Then they were bound and burned.
4. Things don’t always turn out for our deliverance. When they don’t grace will be provided. These believers were bound and determined to obey God. Just as millions down through the ages have chosen to risk their lives doing what the government says not to do. I wonder if you and I would have that same commitment to radical obedience were we to live in a different country that didn’t have a bill of rights or a government that allows for protection of religious freedoms? And it may not be too far away even in our own nation. Canada is working on legislation that will make it illegal even within a religious context to speak openly about homosexuality being a sin. What will churches do whose pastors continue to serve jail time and pay fines? Will pastors and believers avoid these controversial topics to avoid jail time? This week another state Supreme Court (Iowa) ordered marriage licenses be granted to homosexuals. Time is drawing short for true religious freedom even in America. We should prepare ourselves to give all. Guidelines for governmental defiance are two-fold: 1) when the government begins to require believers to deny their faith or their Lord, and 2) when it requires believers to take part in actions that are in clear conflict with Christian conscience or teaching. When and if we defy, we should do so in a non-violent, respectful, and public fashion, being willing to accept and submit to arrest and punishment. This kind of wartime mentality would be the death of pettiness within our churches. If you and I were focused on embracing the stake that we were about to be burned upon, there would be no time for squabbles over matters of little kingdom important. And there would be little time for messing around with worldliness and sinful behaviors when you could die today for trusting Christ. In fact this might be the cause for our inability to die for the faith—the fact that we daily immerse ourselves in a culture and society that is usually in diametric opposition to about all that we stand for.
B. Bold Witness (v. 28-33)
1. The disciples did finally get their opportunity to speak. And you would think that they might like to go easy and get themselves out of the mess that they’re in. But nope, much like the previous time, Peter sees the mess that they are in not as a mess, but as a God-ordained circumstance for the spread of the gospel. They had already filled Jerusalem with the gospel, and they needed to penetrate this last sector of it. And how better of a way to witness to all 70 of the holdouts in the court, than to have believers arrested and tried. And so Peter goes on the offensive. He tells them that they stand against God. And then, the court indicated that the disciples were placing the blame of Jesus’ death upon them, then Peter confirmed that for us. “the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, who you murdered…” Then he acknowledges Jesus’ position as Savior and Prince of Life, and says that it is He who grants repentance and forgiveness. Then he boldly proclaims that they are witnesses, and the Holy Spirit is a witness whom God has given to those who trust in Christ. Then the court wanted to kill them in rage.
2. 2 Tim 1:7, Acts 20:24, Micah 3:8,
3. Illustration: I was on my honeymoon in the Bahamas’ when a man walked up to me and said, "Would you like to buy some cocaine? You can tell everyone how much you really enjoyed the Bahamas’."
After I said "No!" and got over the shock of that man’s boldness, I wondered how Jesus would have responded if someone came up to him selling drugs. Later that day, someone else came up to me selling drugs and that gave me another chance to share Jesus with them in a most creative way. After he told me that he had the "good-stuff", I asked him, "What have you got?" Once he said "Cocaine!", I said the following: Is that all you have? I’m disappointed! I was hoping you would have something better than that. You see, I’ve got the real thing! What I have is all natural, pure and very powerful. And it makes me feel great all day and all night. And get this, it may be illegal in some countries, but not in this one, so you can’t get arrested for having it! By this time the man was very curious and asked me what is this incredible "stuff" I was talking about. I said, "I’m talking about having Jesus in your heart! It’s awesome what he will do for you when you get him inside of you! No drug in all the world is as good as having Jesus in you." The man stopped smiling and got this real serious look on his face and said, "I want what you have. How do I get it?" Finally, in desperation, he shook the razor at the man and screamed, "ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE??!!!" tell about Craig Foster’s testimony, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that…. The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others…..If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”-Spurgeon
4. Do you realize that every circumstance in our lives is a God-ordained circumstance for the spread of the gospel? Whether it is a hospital stay, a home purchase, a car repair issue, a new school, a new customer or patient, or anything. Be a disciple and view these circumstances as an opportunity to further the cause of Christ. We must be proficient in our willingness and preparedness to share the gospel. We must be willing to sacrifice pride, comfort, and relationships to communicate the gospel. We must be faithful to communicate that we are all guilty and need forgiveness. Christ must be central, the word must be used. We must fight against paralyzing fear, and constantly remind ourselves of the mission of our lives and the plight of the lost. We must also separate in our mind the transforming act of salvation from coming to church. And it is good if they come, but coming to church (even regularly) doesn’t guarantee that one really knows Christ. This boldness came from the power of the Holy Spirit, which if you are a believer, you have within you. And so you can share and witness to others. We will be teaching a class in January in DT that will help you learn to share your faith without fear. But however you do it; we must strive to be believers that are focused on telling others. And we must prepare ourselves for rejection, rage, misunderstanding, etc.
A. Closing illustration: Abraham Bentar, a Muslim, had studied the Koran since childhood. In 1998, at the age of 48, he had a stroke related to his hypertension and diabetes. After a pastor prayed for his healing Abraham had a dream of a man in a white robe. He thought the man’s face was the same face he had seen on a painting of Jesus at a neighbor’s home. He bargained with the vision saying he would accept Jesus as Lord and Savior if he were healed from the stroke. He was healed and the same pastor arranged for a church near Abraham to disciple him. Abraham was baptized and attended a school for Bible study. He evangelized Muslims as he sold clothing in villages in West and central Java. His brother-in-law filed charges against him saying that Abraham had tried to force Christianity on him and had blasphemed the Prophet Muhammad.
On March 7, 2006, Abraham was visiting relatives in West Java when he was attacked by a group of Muslims who beat him severely. They rolled over his van and helped themselves to its contents, including the new clothing merchandise. As the melee continued they were joined by other Muslims and began shouting, “Burn him!” They set fire to his van before police arrived just in time to rescue him. Originally, he was detained in the Tasikmalaya Police station for security reasons, but was later charged with blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad. At his trial he was sentenced to 4-1/2 years and then transferred to the local prison in Tasikmalaya.
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
