PERSECUTION AND PRIORITIES
ACTS 5:17-42”WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING.” NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE IS THIS SO EVIDENT THAN RIGHT HERE. FACE WITH A TOUGH SITUATION, A TOUGH COUNSEL, AND A TOUGH TREATMENT, THE APOSTLE OF CHRIST RESPOND WITH A RESOUND UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
I. THE PROMPTING OF PERSECUTION – 5:17
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
a. PERSECUTION IS PROMPTED BY THE EXCELLENCE OF THE CHURCH
i. “THEN” – REFERS US BACK TO THE ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH
ii. MEETING NEEDS
iii. REACHING PEOPLE
iv. ACTING IN UNITY
b. PERSECUTION IS PROMPTED BY THE ENVY OF THE CHURCH
i. “JEALOUSY” – THERE WAS A ZEAL TO REMOVE CHRISTIANITY FROM JERUSALEM
ii. THE CHURCH WAS AFFECTING THE INFLUENCE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAD ON THE PEOPLE
iii. THE LEADERS DID NOT LIKE WHAT THE CHURCH WAS DOING, SO THEY SOUGHT TO PUT A STOP TO IT.
In early February (OF THIS YEAR), a cockpit atheist in Kadena Airbase in Japan contacted MAAF to ask why there was a Bible posted in Air Force lodging. Because the Air Force is a government agency, there should be neutrality toward religion rather than a special privilege for Christianity. After inquiries from the Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers and a legal review, Air Force Services (Agency) Operations has promised to end their Bible requirement.
THE REASON THE CHURCH FACES PERSECUTION TODAY IS BECAUSE A CHURCH ON FIRE FOR CHRIST MAKES A POSITIVE EFFECT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE IT TOUCHES!
SIMPLY PUT, THERE IS NO MORE EFFECTIVE LIFE THAN ONE AFFECTED BY CHRIST!
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE DAY DEMANDED RESPECT FROM THE PEOPLE, THE APOSTLES SOUGHT TO BRING RESPECT AND REVERENCE TO GOD!
II. THE PRACTICE OF PERSECUTION – 5:18
Acts 5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
Acts 5:18 (KJV) And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
a. THERE IS MEANNESS IN THIS PERSECUTION – THEY LAID HANDS ON THEM WITH THE PURPOSE OF INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION.
i. NOTHING THEY DID HERE WAS LEGAL. IT WAS ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF STOPPING THE ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH.
b. THERE IS A METHOD IN THEIR PERSECUTION.
i. THEY WENT AFTER THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH.
ii. VERY AFFECTIVE STRATEGY. STOP THE LEADERS AND YOU STOP THE MOVEMENT.
iii. WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THOSE IN LEADERSHIP IN OUR CHURCHES, MISSION ORGANIZATIONS, AND MISSION FIELDS.
iv. WE NEED TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH SERVING GOD, NOT REACTING TO OTHERS!
III. THE POWERLESSNESS OF PERSECUTION – 5:19-20
Acts 5:19-20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
a. GOD IS IN THE DELIVERANCE BUSINESS. OPPOSITION WAS NOT EXPECTED, BUT GOD’S PROVISION WAS DEFINITELY NOT EXPECTED!
b. NOTICE THE POWER OF DELIVERANCE.
i. JESUS CAME THROUGH LOCKED DOORS.
ii. THERE IS NO DOOR TO WHICH GOD DOES NOT HAVE A KEY.
iii. THIS WAS A WAY GOD RE-ENFORCED HIS PROTECTION, PRESENCE, AND POWER.
SOMETIMES WE SIMPLY NEED TO STEP BACK A BIT AND BECOME SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO SEE HOW MUCH GOD ACTUALLY DOES WORK IN OUR LIVES. GOD’S INVOLVEMENT IS EVIDENT AND EXTENSIVE.
c. NOTICE THE PURPOSE FOR DELIVERANCE
i. GO, AND TELL THE PEOPLE THE FULL MESSAGE OF THE NEW LIFE.
ii. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU AND I WERE FREED FROM THE POWER OF SIN TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT FREEDOM FROM SIN.
iii. OUR SALVATION IS A DELIVERANCE OF GOD.
Every great person has learned how to obey, whom to obey and when to obey.
William Ward
IV. THE PERPLEXITY OF THE PERSECUTORS – 5:21-25
Acts 5:21-25 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.
22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this. 25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people."
a. WOULDN’T YOU BE – THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD GET OUT OF THAT PRISON.
b. BUT THEY DID!
V. THE PERSISTENCY OF THE PERSECUTORS – 5:26-28
Acts 5:26-28 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. 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "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."
a. THEY ARE ARRESTED AGAIN
i. NOTICE THEY WERE NOT HARD TO FIND! THEY WERE DOING WHAT THEY WERE TOLD TO DO!
ii. REMEMBER WHEN JESUS WENT “LOST”. WHERE DID THEY FIND HIM – DOING HIS FATHER’S WILL!
WHEN WE ARE DOING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO, WE WILL BE WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BE!
b. THIS ARREST IS DIFFERENT IN CHARACTER – IT WAS DONE WITHOUT VIOLENCE.
c. THIS ARREST IS DIFFERENT IN CONCERN – THEY WERE FEARFUL OF THE PEOPLE
d. THE COUNCIL SOUGHT TO REMIND THE DISCIPLES OF THEIR PAST MEETING
i. THEIR ARROGANCE – TELLING THEM TO NOT PREACH CHRIST
ii. THEIR IGNORANCE – THEY ALREADY HAD THE BLOOD OF CHRIST ON THEIR HANDS – IN FACT WHEN THEY WERE BEFORE PILATE THEY ACCEPTED HIS BLOOD
VI. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE PERSECUTORS – 5:29-32
Acts 5:29-32 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
a. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED IN THE CHURCH TODAY
b. PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE PRIORITY OF THEIR MESSAGE – FROM GOD
c. PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF THEIR MESSAGE
i. THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST – WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO REMISSION OF SIN
ii. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST – WITHOUT A RISEN CHRIST THERE IS NO VICTORY OVER DEATH
iii. THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST – WITHOUT AN EXALTED CHRIST THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THE SATISFACTION OF GOD!
WHERE BELIEVERS AND CHURCHES GET INTO PROBLEMS IS WHEN WE FORGET WHOSE MESSAGE IT IS, OR WHAT HIS MESSAGE CONTAINS!
VII. THE PERVERSENESS OF THE PERSECUTORS – 5:33-40
Acts 5:33-40 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
34 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. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
36 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.
37 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. 38 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. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 40 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.
a. THERE WAS PERVERSE CONVICTION – CONVICTED PEOPLE EITHER REPENT OR RETALIATE – THESE MEN WANTED TO PUT THE APOSTLES TO DEATH.
b. THE WAS A PECULIAR COUNSEL
i. LEAVE THEM ALONE – IF IT FROM GOD, WE CANNOT STOP IT, AND IF IT IS FROM MAN, IT WILL FADE AWAY
ii. TREMENDOUS UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!
VIII. THE PERFORMANCE AFTER THE PERSECUTION – 5:41-42
Acts 5:41-42 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 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 Christ.
a. AFTER EVERYTHING THEY WENT THROUGH, HERE IS HOW THE APOSTLES RESPONDED.
b. WE COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THIS, …
i. THEY HAD A GREAT ATTITUDE – COUNTED IT A PRIVILEGE
ii. THEY HAD A GREAT ACTION
1. IT WAS CONSISTENT – THEY PREACHED CHRIST
2. IT WAS COURAGEOUS – THEY DID WHAT THEY WERE THREATENED NOT TO DO (AND WHO WERE THEY OBEYING?)
3. IT WAS CORRECT – IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE EXCITED ABOUT CHRIST, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE CHRIST
