Acts 4:23-33
I suspect that most all of the conflicts and battles of life boil down to issues of control. Republicans want control of the congress and Democrats don’t want to give it up. Israelis want to control Palestinians and Palestinians resist. Sunnis and Shiites fight for control of Iraq. Americans want to control illegal immigration.
Parents want to have control over their children and once they reach a certain age, and a very early one at that, children begin to resist their parent’s control over them. Husbands want to control their wives (Something you’d think that by this point in human history, men would have learned, is not possible) but. wives know they can control their husbands. And all of us would like to have at least some control over our health, our time, the price of oil and how much money the Government should really get.
This struggle for control takes its toll on us but, what really takes its toll on us, are the things that we face with which we have absolutely no control over, even though our will desires control. We couldn’t have prevented them from happening, nor did we do anything to cause them to happen and yet they happen….to us. They were simply beyond our control. And that causes us despair or makes us angry, especially when the impact of such things hurts.
Or sometimes we do have control. But because we didn’t exercise that control like we should have or could have, we lost control. James reminds us that in our struggle for control, we cannot even control something so little as the tongue. And that causes us great guilt and shame.
I say all of this by way of introduction because as we move into Acts 4, the issue that stands before us is the issue of control.
Let’s begin by overlapping into a few verses from last weeks reading, before we discuss Acts, chapter 4. Just to quickly review, Peter and John encounter a lame beggar at the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem. The man was begging alms from those going to worship. Peter and John stop, look at this man and say, “silver and gold I do not have but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And miraculously, this man jumped to his feet and was healed. The crowds of course are amazed at this. So Peter and John take the opportunity to explain what happened. The same Jesus whom they crucified, God raised and He continues to be just as living and active through His body the Church as He had been.
By His name and by faith in His name, this man is healed. And we read that the church grew to 5,000 men. A significant number when you add in the women and children. The Jewish leaders didn’t like what was going on. They sensed they were loosing control over their church. And so they arrested Peter and John and put them in prison overnight. As the ruling council met the next day however it became very obvious that these men had done nothing illegal and there was no basis for a trial. So they had no choice but to let them go.
And yet still they would try to exercise their control over Peter and John and that’s where we want to pick things up. Acts 4:16-22. ”What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this song of healing was performed was more than forty years old.”
For the rulers of Israel, this was a matter of control. How do we keep this movement under control? How do we keep it from getting out of control? The answer was to silence the preachers. “Don’t speak anymore in this name.”
Have you ever felt hindered in your relationship with Christ? Right now, there is a battle going on at capital hill that is seeking to remove pastors from TV and Radio. The main jyst is that any PRO on the radio must allow for equal CON’s worth of air time. If this law is passed, it would mean the end of the Lutheran Hour!
Although Paul writes to the Romans, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” It does not mean that we should bow down to rulers of this land, when they seek to hinder God’s call for us to preach Christ. (Rom.13:1). Instead we should rise up and continue to be true to our calling, just like John and Peter.
Jesus had said to them, “you must speak in my name.” Jesus has said the same to us. We are to live under the control of the governing authorities because God has appointed them for the good of a peaceful and orderly society. But when the authorities who are appointed by God command that we do what is clearly contrary to the command of God, then we must disobey the one to obey the other.
Now to today’s text: (Vss. 23-25a). “When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant said by the Holy Spirit.””
When they pray saying, “Sovereign Lord”, they are saying, “The Lord who is in control”. The word here is “despot.” A “despot” is someone in complete and total control and enforces his rule upon others. Of course the other definition of the word “Tyrannical” does not apply. Truly, the Lord is a good and holy “despot”! Things always go His way. He is the one who is in control of everything because He made everything. This is why the 1st article of the Creed is so important to believe firmly. We confess, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things, visible and invisible.” This creed reminds us that our Creator who makes all things is in control.
In the faith that our Lord has give to us, with Father, Son and Holy Spirit motiviating and blessing our heart and actions, we too are able to look upon God and call him “Sovereign Lord”. We are able to make this bold confession of faith. And when we confess this title of God, let us also understand what we are confessing. To confess the Lord is Sovereign, is to say, “Lord, we believe that the events that take place and the things that happen are all under your control.” “Sovereign Lord, nothing happens on it own and apart from your will.” “Sovereign Lord, everything must pass in review before You before it is allowed to happen.” Therefore, “Sovereign Lord, everything has your blessing stamped upon it.”
I confess, it is quite difficult to confess all this when your path is not going as you had planned or if others seem to be more in control of your life than you are but, none-the-less, this confession is true.
Today’s text is quite helpful to us all because we need to be reminded that even in the Apostles day, people tried to take control away from God and His Holy Word. Therefore it is also good to look further as to how John and Peter reacted. In (Vss. 25a-28) we see these two men of God pray, in response to other’s desire to take control away from the Lord and from them. So, they employ the words of Psalm 2 and pray these words, “Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed.” Which is to say, “What futility!” “How absurd!” “Ridiculous!” The Lord is Sovereign. He is in control. Rage and plot against Him all you want, things are going to go His way.
The early church saw clearly that the fulfillment of this Psalm is in Jesus. Our text says, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
The Gentiles at this point include even the religious leaders of Israel because they rejected Jesus. The Kings of the earth are played by Herod and Pilate who are against Jesus, the Lord’s anointed One; His Christ. Yet even this, God had predestined and it happens according to His will. Even as they arrest Him unfairly, God is in control. Even as they flog Him unmercifully, God is in control. Even as they crucify Him unconscionably, God is in control! Even as they hurl insults at Him unrepentantly, God is in control.
This is what we need to be reminded of, when things happen to us or loved ones, that are out of our control. When someone in the world seeks to hurt you, remember that God is in control. When someone in the church forgets this is a place of refuge and turns the church into a battle ground, remember that God is still in control.
So remember all that you have heard today and remember also the words found in Romans 8:28 that says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Those words remind us all the more that God is in control and those who know and trust Him to be good and gracious will live in peace and contentment under His control. This despot is our good Shepherd.
Let’s say that together and I am going to add a bit of commentary after each few words:. Please repeat after me. “For we know” That’s the assurance of faith. Not just head knowledge but knowing it in our heart, “that in all things” Not just some things but all things...The good and the bad. The hard and the easy. The fun and the not so fun. In all things. “God works for the good” Whatever the circumstance, the situation, the trial the trouble, the joy, the sorrow, God is in control and working in your life for good. “of those who love him.” He is the “good Shepherd”, the one who lays his life down for the sheep. He exercises His control over His sheep for their good in His love for them and so when the wolves come, the sheep are not afraid.
Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, for He has laid down His life for us and has demonstrated His control even over death and the grave.
I have one final bit of encouragement and guidance and it’s not too creative on my part because it is again on the topic of prayer. Actually John and Peter offer up further prayer found in (Vss. 29-30) The prayer says “And now Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
This is a very interesting and wonderful petition. Please note, they don’t ask for revenge or even that these men be silenced. They’re only request is that they may “continue to speak your word with all boldness” and that God would continue to do His Work in the world and the lives of His people. No fight for control here, only the peaceful contentment of living under the control of their Sovereign Lord. So, by looking at this last prayer we get an understanding of the proper way to deal with moments when control is being taken away from us.
Owning control can be one of our big vises in this world. It is much easier taking control when the desires of heart are not met, especially when those desires are holy and well intentioned. But can we really say that our intentions and our plans are better designed than God’s? Can our own will and wants and needs own more purpose than what God has in store for us? Never! And so be encouraged, if you or someone you love finds themselves or their surroundings soaring out of control. Be reminded that God’s control is Holy! God’s control has purpose! Even God’s vengeance has already been promised. God knows the wicked people in this world and even within the Christian church and he will see to them. Meanwhile we can pray that the love of Christ overtakes them even as we pray that God would continue to overtake us, our actions and our worship.
In the end Peter and John were able to do ministry and serve the Lord faithfully. In the end, Jesus was still able to fulfill his will. Their trials were long. Their attackers relentless and life was truly a challenge but, still God was in control. May that promise and certainty rest with you always. Amen.
