The early church was certainly active at this time. Souls being saved, people being blessed. Bodies being healed; & revival spirit was flowing. Note some 3 or 4 things with by way of introduction.
Acts 5:12 tells us: And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Here are 3 reasons why such miracles were permitted.
1.It helped keep the church together: verse 12 (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
It was not the time for them to be scattered.
2.It brought about some respect for the Apostles. Acts 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them:but the people magnified them.
God’s true men must be respected. Not as lords! But as servants of the most High God.
3.It caused the Church to increase in number. Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
This is God’s great purpose in His work today.
In verse 17 we see the Devil at work also...
For never did any good work go on with any hope of success. But it met with opposition. Satan, the destroyer, ever was, & ever is an imposing adversary.
1.Who Satan used as his tool: Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
The high priest, & religious crowd. Plenty of them around even today!
Satan delights in causing turmoil among religious ranks. That way he keeps us focused on problems. Not souls for Christ.
2.How God’s Servants Were Treated: Acts 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. This was an effort to degrade God’s people.
3.The Procedure the Lord Took to Release Them Acts 5:19-20 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
The Lord intends to keep His work moving.
LET US NOTICE WHAT THE ANGEL COULD NOT DO.
I.HE COULD NOT GO IN MAN’S STEAD
Here the angel commanded the Apostles to GO.
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
I’m sure this angel would have delighted to go, for the Lord. For you see he had his habitation with the Lord. But Angels cannot go in man’s stead.
In Luke 14:16-23 The Parable of the Great Supper.
Luke 14:21 gives us some things to do. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Streets - city streets
Lanes - small streets
The poor - poor sections
Maimed - half blind, hospitals filled with them.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Highways - each leading in & out of our city
Every house, business, service station
Hedges - rural roads, country roads,& rural areas. Sounds like Floresville, Poth, & Stockdale.
2.HE COULD NOT STAND WHERE MAN NEEDS TO STAND
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Stand in the temple (Our church)
A.The place God designed for His people to meet. (More than just a building).
B.The place where the world knows as Heaven oriented.
C. A Place that was designed & set aside. Dedicated as a place to worship God.
D.The place where Christians can come together for peace.
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
3.HE COULD NOT SPEAK THE MESSAGE THAT MAN MUST SPEAK
Speak to the people all the words of this life.
Surely this angel would have loved to speak to the people the Gospel of Redemption.
But man was redeemed not angels.
Man was lost not angels.
Man was held captive by sin, not angels,
So Man Must Speak.
All the words of this life are words of:
A.The Blood
1.Redeeming bought us back Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
2.Sin removing Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;and without shedding of blood is no remission.
3.Life Restoring
4.Life Refreshing
B.The Bible
1.How to live (by every word from God’s mouth) Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2.Who to love (Everyone) Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
3.Where to labor (in His fields) Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Why to look for His coming. (Purifies us)
C.The Blessed Hope
1.It is Precious 1 Peter 1:19-21 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
2.It is was Promised Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3.It is Powerful Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
4.It is Profitable John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
CONCLUSION:
Sinner the angel cannot help you if you choose to go on without Christ.
Christians the angel cannot speak your message for you.
This then is the unfinished task Christ left when He ascended back to Heaven. The task of telling others about Him.
Are you doing what the Angel cannot do?
Are you telling the sweet story of Jesus’ Love?
Are you living for Him every day of the week? Or are you a Sunday Morning Christian? The altar is now open for business. As the music plays please come. Salvation, join, or just to spend time with the Lord. As the Bible says in Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (A promise from the Lord to all of us) Please come now!
