Faith on the Frontlines - Acts 5:12-42 - November 13, 2011
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Hoa Lo prison was constructed by the French in the late 1800’s during the time when Vietnam was still a part of French Indochina. Translated, the name of the prison means, “fiery furnace,” or, “hell’s hole.” It was a fitting name. Made to house up to a maximum of 600 inmates at any one time, by the 1950’s it was home to over 2000 people – all of who lived in subhuman conditions. During the Vietnam war the prison was used to house captured Americans – most of them airmen who had been shot down during the course of their missions. The POW’s had their own name for the prison – they called it the “Hanoi Hilton.”
Conditions were unsanitary and inhumane. Prisoners were routinely interrogated and tortured. It’s a place where the goal of the prison wardens was to break the will of the prisoners and with the combination of brutal torture and physical deprivation they often succeeded in doing just that. However, the prisoners often discovered in themselves an inner core of steely determination that had never been put to the test.
“In his book Surviving Hell: A P.O.W.'s Journey, Leo Thorsness tells of the courage it took to worship in the … Hanoi Hilton. Thorsness tells of a memorable service after the prisoners were rounded up in response to a failed rescue attempt.
The senior ranking officer in one cell stood up one Sunday and said, "Let's have church service." The men agreed. The guard came in and forbade them from having a service. The men discussed the problem and said they were all committed to having a service the following Sunday no matter what. That Sunday, Ned Schuman stood to open the service, and the guards came in and took him off to be tortured. After that, the second-highest ranking officer said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." While praying, about halfway through, he was sent to be tortured. At that, the third in command stood and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." The guards took him out for torture. Number four stood up and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." At this the guards not only carried away the officer but began hitting the [other prisoners] with the butts of their guns, shouting for them to stop. Number five took his time getting to the center of the room; and before he could speak, the soldiers took him out. The guards locked the door behind them, and number six got up. "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer," he said.
Thorsness says that this time they finished it. He went on to say that even though five men were tortured, they all thought it worth it.” (Preaching Daily, November 7, 2011)
Five men tortured – why? Simply because they wanted to worship God. Though the war they fought in was a battle between nations and ideologies – that day in that cell – they were on the frontlines of another struggle. One not waged against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Now, when we use the word, “frontlines,” in a military context what we’re doing is speaking of the forward-most forces on a particular battlefield. Those are the forces that are in direct conflict, direct confrontation, with the enemy. When an attack comes they are the ones who are first to experience the fury of the opposition, they bear the brunt of the attack. Those on the frontlines are the first to experience the horrors of war and they are the ones to suffer the casualties of the conflict.
The verses from Ephesians that we read earlier make it clear that there is a spiritual battle going on all around us. We don’t see it directly – but we do see the evidence of it all around us. There are casualties in this battle – shattered lives, broken homes, despair, suffering and so on. And there is a sense in which we are all on the frontlines in this battle. We are called upon to fight on the side of the light and yet at the same time, here in North America, while we do see evidences of the battle all around us, we do not seem to find ourselves on the frontlines in the same sense that our brothers and sisters around the world do.
Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church and make no mistake: God’s church is being persecuted around the world. In some places being on the frontlines means being ostracized, outcast, beaten, imprisoned or even killed, for the faith. According to the IDOP website, Christians are the largest identifiable group of people who are being denied what are considered to be basic human rights simply because of who they are. And yet despite these things God’s word is spreading and His church is growing!
Vietnam is a good example of the power of the Gospel to push back the darkness. Did you know, that in 1989 there was not one single evangelical Christian amongst the people of northern Vietnam? By the year 2000 – just 11 years later – there were over 175,000 born again believers. And all of this in the face of brutal and ruthless opposition on the part of Vietnamese authorities. (www.idop.ca) The gates of hell will not prevail against God’s church!
But the struggle is far from painless and the casualties on the frontline of faith grow by the day. One of those on the frontlines is an Iranian pastor by the name of Youcef Nadarkhani. He is currently awaiting execution for apostasy and attempting to share his faith with his Muslim neighbours. Youcef is married and is the father of two young children. His wife was sentenced to life in prison for her apostasy but was released in October of 2010. Pastor Youcef has been told he can go free as well – as soon as he recants his faith. This he refuses to do. He will not turn away from God, he will not deny Jesus, he will, if necessary, give his life for what he believes. This is one of the things it means to be on the frontlines. There is often a price to be paid and a cross to be carried for those who stand firm in Jesus Christ.
Open your Bibles with me this morning to the 5th chapter of the book of Acts. We’re going to read about another group of believers that found themselves on the frontlines as the church was just starting out. Acts 5, and we’ll begin reading in verse 12 … This is what we’re told …
“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 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. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”
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. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “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.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:12–42, NIV)
I just want to quickly highlight a few things this morning in regards to the persecution that many are facing today. The first is this: The persecution against the disciples came about out of jealousy and fear. It did not stem from theological differences but out of jealousy of the praise of the people, the power of the witness, the influence of the common man and out of fear – fear of losing one`s position and power and privilege. These are often the same reasons that persecution arises today – fear of the Gospel message and jealousy of the believer`s position in Christ.
Secondly, I want us to take note that God intervened miraculously in this particular situation. The angel of the Lord, in a manner unknown to us, opened the doors of the jail and brought them out – without any of the guards being aware of it. However, these men were not set free so that they could go back to their homes and their families and live a life of ease. On the contrary, they were given a specific commission. Having just been set free from the hand of those who opposed the message they proclaimed, they were sent by the angel right back into a place of danger – the frontlines of the temple courts – to `tell the people all about this new life`` that they had in Jesus. They were set free in order to proclaim the words of life all the more. We have both the freedom and the obligation to proclaim the words of life as well.
Thirdly, they sought to please God rather than man. In verse 29 they told the authorities `We must obey God rather than human beings!` We are called upon to obey the civil authorities that God has placed over us – but only to the point where civil law comes into conflict with God`s will. When it comes to that you will need to make a choice – will you seek to please God or will you seek to appease the authorities? This is the place where you find yourself on the frontlines of this spiritual battle that’s going on all around us. This is the point at which you experience the suffering for the sake of the name of Christ – when you take that stand – when you stand for God and confront the lies with the truth, the darkness with the light, the ways of the world with the Word of the Lord.
Fourthly, I want you to notice the message they proclaimed. Verse 32 … Jesus came to call people to repentance that their sins might be forgiven. That’s a message that we don’t want to lose sight of today because that’s what we’re meant to be doing as we are sharing the words of life – calling people to repentance that their sins be forgiven and that they would be reconciled with God. That is the message that Jesus proclaimed as He began His ministry. Matthew 4:17 Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” And in the third chapter of the book of Acts Peter preaches to the people saying, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” That’s a message that the world still needs to hear today. True belief results in repentance, a change of heart, a change of direction, an embracing of the things of God.
Fifth, notice the people’s response – verse 33 – they were furious and wanted to put the disciples to death. Not everyone will receive the message well. Not everyone is going to want to hear it. Some will ignore it, others will mock it, some will rebel against it, and some will try to shut it down. We are not responsible for how people receive the message – we are simply responsible for proclaiming it faithfully. Not just pastors and teachers – but each and everyone of us who has come into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus. If that’s you – you have a story to share – a story of how God has changed your life. You carry within you the words of life that Scripture is talking about. You can’t keep them to yourself – you need to share them with the world.
Six, verse 39, those who oppose you are really fighting against God. In the book of Proverbs we read these words, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:30, NIV) When Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming and Ed McCully were put to death by the Waodani Indians of Ecuadar, to whom they had gone to share the words of life, the powers of darkness must have thought they had won a great victory. Five of God’s faithful men put to death and the people who had been in bondage so long in bondage still. Yet no plan can succeed against the Lord and that which man meant for evil, God has used for good, and today there are many believers amongst the Waodani – including a number of those who had put the missionaries to death.
Seven, look at how the apostles responded to the persecution they experienced. They rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus. That doesn’t mean they were out looking for persecution – they didn’t have a martyr complex about them – but as the world turned against them they saw the hand of God at work. They saw the hand of God moving in their lives – and they rejoiced in that. They had been chosen as God’s instruments to carry with them the good news of Jesus – and so have you and I.
And we can be like those whom we are told, in verse 42, “never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” And maybe you’re sitting here today and you’re thinking to yourself … “Well that’s good for the evangelists and the missionaries and the pasto,r but I could never do it. I’m not a teacher. I’m not a theologian. I don’t have anything to offer.” Friends, if you have Jesus you have something to share with someone else! If you’ve been saved you have a story to tell! If you’ve been redeemed from death and given over to life through faith in Jesus then you have the words of life to share! You’ve been entrusted with them and God would have you go and share your faith, share those words of life, because this life isn’t all there is!
And as you do so, know that persecution will come. Jesus has told us so. From John 15 we have these words, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” (John 15:18–21, NIV)
Persecution will come. It will come in different forms and in different degrees but it will come. And it will come because the faith we are called to live out is diametrically opposed to the ways of the world. There are two kingdoms in conflict, two worldviews at odds. And so, we must, in the words of Joshua, “choose this day whom you will serve.” If it’s God then let it be God! Don’t hold anything back! Live for Him wholeheartedly! Don’t compromise your faith, or water it down to make it more palatable to the world. The world doesn’t need a watered down Jesus – it needs all the words of life because it is Jesus alone who is the way, the truth, and the life. My challenge to you this day is to remember your brothers and sisters who are on the frontline, whose faith is being tested in the crucible of fire, those who are suffering for the sake of Christ. Pray that they, and we too, would proclaim those wonderful words of life regardless of what comes, pray that they would be bold and would not lose heart, pray that the goodness, love and power of our God would be make clear to all who do not believe!
We’re going to close the message this morning with a video clip. It tells the true story of a man who stood on the frontlines of this battle to which we come, a man who would not bow down to the gods of this world but gave his everything for the God who had given everything for him. I hope you will be as challenged and as inspired in your faith as I was in mine as you watch this clip …
Watch video … and then close with singing “I have decided to follow Jesus.”
