We’re going to be in Acts 5 tonight, but we’re going to begin in 2 Corinthians 10. One of the things that I have been doing is going through scripture and identifying what I call “Godly Strongholds.” And tonight is the third message in the series entitled “Creating New Strongholds.”
Turn to 2 Corinthians 10 and we’re going to begin in verse 3 with the passage that we’ve looked at previously.
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
If you ever decide to do a word search on the word “imaginations,” every time the word is used it’s not good. And it started back in Genesis 6 when it says the imaginations of the hearts of men was evil continually.
Most of the time, when we talk about strongholds, we’re talking about things that keep us from living the way that we should, that keep us from following what the Word of God tells us to do. Tonight, instead of examining strongholds from the viewpoint of tearing them down, as we’ve done in the two previous messages, we’re going to look at strongholds that we need to affirm, conform to and establish in our daily lives.
When we make the decision, ladies and gentlemen, to change what we think, to change how we think to agree with what the Word of God says, then what we are doing is imposing truth on untruth. In essence, that is what a Godly stronghold is.
Tonight, we are going to look at a record involving Peter and John and the strongholds operating in their lives. But, before we do, let’s look at a definition of Godly strongholds.
Godly strongholds are ways of thinking about God and His Word that have been so engrained in our minds and belief systems that we know and confess that they are true.
When you read the gospels, the strongholds operating in Jesus’ life jump out over and over and over again. “I can of my own self do nothing. What I hear My Father say, I say. What I see My Father do, I do.” That was a stronghold for Jesus. He didn’t do anything other than that.
I looked up the definition for the word “Christian.” Webster’s dictionary says a Christian is “a person who professes a belief in the teachings of Jesus.” Sounds good, right? Then I looked up the word “professes.” It means to “openly claim, openly admit and freely accept.”
Ladies and gentlemen, that does not apply to most in the Body of Christ. Even by Webster’s definition, many in the Body of Christ are not Christians. They are not willing to draw a line in sand and say “This is what God’s Word says and nothing else matters.”
That’s a stronghold. When you draw a line in the sand and you say that whatever God’s Word says is all that matters – that’s a stronghold ladies and gentlemen. Many in the Body of Christ are not there. We have marijuana laws. Do you know why? The Body of Christ supported them.
So, once again, Godly strongholds are ways of thinking about God and His Word that have been so engrained in our minds and belief systems that’s we know and confess that they are true.
Acts 5 is where we are going to be tonight and Peter has created a small stir. The chapter starts off with Ananias and Sapphira. You know the story. They tell Peter that they are going to sell some land and give the proceeds to him to use for the Church. They’ve already talked to an auctioneer and he says, for the purpose of this teaching, that they can get $100,000 for it. But the land ends up selling for $250,000.
Now remember, they promised Peter that they would give him all the proceeds from the sale. .But they weren’t expecting $250,000. So they decide to hold back part of the money. Ananias goes to Peter and says “The Lord has really blessed us! Here’s $150,000, which is more than the $100,000 that we thought the land would bring! Isn’t God great?”
Let’s pick this up in verse 3.
(3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land.
And the interesting thing about this word “filled” is that they had been filled to the point there was no more filling that could be done. So Ananias and Sapphira’s lifestyle was not one of deceit. And we have to know, ladies and gentlemen, that this happened over a period of time.
(4) Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?
Peter says “Ananias, the land was yours. You could have come to me and said Peter, we got more than $100,000 but here’s the amount we promised.” Peter would have been disappointed but at least Ananias would not have lied.
(4) Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou has not lied unto men but unto God.”
And of course, we know that when Peter says that, Ananias dies immediately. Three hours later, Peter confronts Sapphira about the deceit. She dies on the spot. Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to the Holy Ghost.
There is a message here. Do you remember the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife and how she was chasing him all around the place to get him to do what he shouldn’t do? Joseph told her I’m not going to do this wicked thing and sin against your husband.” Is that what he told her? No! He said “I am not going to commit such great wickedness and sin against God.”
So let me clue you in ladies and gentlemen. Every time you make a decision to sin, you are making a decision to sin against God. Every. Single. Time. Write it down. Take it to the bank. That is what’s happening. That should give you chills and be a strong deterrent to even thinking about doing something you know that you shouldn’t do.
That’s why David said in Psalm 119:11 – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” For those of us who are born again and have God’s life and nature, all we have to do is follow the leading of our new nature. Don’t fight it. Agree with it.
After Sapphira died, verse 11 says “great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” Duh! Of course it did. I can see people going back and thinking about their encounters with Peter. “Did I tell him the truth? Did I leave anything out? Oh, God I hope not!”
What this did, ladies and gentlemen, was launch a revival of unprecedented signs and wonders.
(12) 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,
I’m going to read that again. By the hands of those who attend Grace Christian Center, by those who are associated with Jim Martin Ministries were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. Do you capture that? Get a hold of that, okay?
(13) And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
(14) And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:)
(15) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
We should read this verse this way:
? With the shadow of Kathy Martin passing by.
? With the shadow of Free Parker passing by.
? With the shadow of Stephen Johnson passing by.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are born again. God is your Father. Colossians 1:27 says “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Everything that Christ is, is in you! Say it with me: “Everything that Christ is, is in me!” So when we read things like this, it should not surprise us. This should be normal for us who know that Christ is in us.
(16) There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Every time Cindy declared healing over someone, the person gets healed. Every time Nina declared healing over someone, the person gets healed. Cancer disappears when Lee declares the Word of God. Rheumatoid arthritis disappears when Neil declares the Word of God. “Healed every one.”
What we’re reading here is a repeat, on a larger scale, of what happened in Acts 3 when the lame man was healed. When you read Acts 4, you will see how unhappy this made the religious leaders. So what we’re about to read is no surprise.
(17) Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,)
Now you all know why they were called Sadducees, right? They didn’t believe in the resurrection and that’s why they were Sadd-u-cee. (Laughter)
(Which is of the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
(18) and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
(19) But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth.
The religious leaders were so happy that they were preaching Jesus that they put them in prison. Thrilled them! Made their day! I make light of that ladies and gentlemen but the day is fast approaching in the United States of America. It’s coming. If the Lord tarries, it’s coming that when you start preaching the name of Jesus it’s going to cause such madness that they will want to throw you in prison.
It’s no wonder that the word “Christian” defined by Webster’s dictionary as those who profess to believe in the teachings of Jesus, who openly declare and admit that they agree with them, are not doing it. They know that when they become bold for Jesus, they are putting a target on their backs for all the other unbelievers and for some of their family members in the Church.
(19) But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, and I love this,
(20) Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
A stronghold that they had ladies and gentlemen: Repeatedly speaking the words of life builds a stronghold of life in your life!
It’s the same for us. We know what the Bible says. Jesus says the words that I speak, they are spirit and they are life. Pastor, on several occasions, has said when you read the Bible you are reading words of life. But we don’t approach the Bible that way. But that’s what it is – Words of life.
Early the next morning, the apostles are in the temple “speaking the words of life.” Do you think they got any sleep the night before? An angel had just busted them out of prison! No way they got any sleep that night! “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught” (verse 25). Peter and John couldn’t wait to obey the word of the Lord and get to the temple and preach, at the top of their lungs, Jesus and His resurrection!
We’ve just identify another stronghold: Immediate obedience to God’s Word produces and reinforces Godly strongholds.
So, the religious leaders are still in bed when Peter and John get to the temple. In the meantime, the religious leaders have gathered together to question the apostles. Believing they were still in prison, temple guards were sent to fetch them. But wait. Peter and John were not in the prison. Where were they? The prison was secure; the temple guards didn’t have a clue. Then someone said the apostles are in the temple “teaching the people.” Hmmmm? I wonder what they were teaching?!?!
(26) Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
(27) And when they had brought them, they set them before the council and the high priest asked them,
(28) Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
At times I find myself amused by this passage. The religious leaders, for at least the fourth time, have told Peter and John or other apostles, to stop teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus. I can just see the apostles looking at each other and smirking. It’s almost as if there’s an inside joke among them. “John, isn’t this the fourth time we’ve called us to the Principal’s Office over the same thing? They fourth time! Should we tell these guys you really need to read the memo?” “You really need to read the memo because when you let us go, you’re probably going to bring us back a fifth time!”
(29) Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
When we see the word “ought,” it doesn’t communicate to us what it should communicate. For example, when Stephen was still at home and he’d come home from running, I’d say you ought to take a shower. Stephen could decide whether or not he wanted to take a shower. That is not what this word means.
Hold your finger here and look in Matthew 16:21. This is the first time the word is used in the New Testament. “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he MUST go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”
The word “ought” is “must” here. When Jesus said he must go to Jerusalem, did he have a choice? No sir. No ma’am. He was doing what His Father wanted him to do. So Jesus says “I must go.” And that’s what this word “ought’ means. We “must” obey God and not man. We have no choice.
Can you see what the apostles are saying? We have no choice. Now we know that they had free will. We understand that. But they had drawn a line in the sand that when it comes to the things of God – we have no choice!
Ladies and gentlemen, it said that when the shadow of Peter passed by folks, they got healed and that when they spoke the word they healed all of them. Do you know why? We have no choice! When God’s Word says this is what we do, this is what we do! If you want to see revival in this place, God’s Word has to be “this is what we do!” We have no choice. We don’t have an option. We have no Plan B, if you want to see the things Jesus says we are to see.
John 14:12 is example number one. “The works that I do, ye shall do also.” If we want to see those things, then we draw a line in the sand, maybe two or three, to show how serious we are.
This is THE STRONGHOLD of strongholds ladies and gentlemen. We’re going to do what God says no matter what. No matter what. And they learned it from Jesus and we see his example in Matthew 4:4. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
What we read in verse 29 is essentially the same thing Peter and John said to the religious leaders in Acts 4:20 – “For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.” And the word “not” that’s part of “cannot” is an absolute negation. We have no choice!
When the apostles say “we ought to obey,” they are saying again “we cannot but speak.” Teaching and preaching anything other than what they have been taught – it was not going to happen. It’s a non-starter. It’s wasted breath.
Now say this new stronghold declaration with me: “I live by every single word my Heavenly Father has spoken in the Bible. I obey every word because it is the bread of life from His table. No one, and no situation, will ever be able to move me from believing this. I live by every word my Father has spoken! Every. Single. Word.” Amen.
Look at how the apostles boldly and fearlessly respond to the religious leaders. They were not disrespectful, but they stood their ground.
(30) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
(31) Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
(32) And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
By this time the religious leaders are beside themselves. The Bible says in verse 33 that “they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.” They were ready to take a vote, right then and there, to determine whether or not the apostles would be executed. But Gamaliel, a doctor of the law who was held in high esteem, stepped in and calmed their rage.
He reminded them of others who had rebelled and failed and then gave them sound advice.
(38) And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought.
(39) But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
When you fight against God, you don’t win. And that’s something that we have to understand as His children. He’s our Father. All we do is say that whatever My Father says, regardless of the subject, He is right. It doesn’t matter that our government has passed laws that say it’s okay to do it. What My Father says is what’s right. That’s all that matters to me.
The council agreed with him but they had to send a message to “the Christians.”
(40) And to him they agreed, and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
(41) And they departed from the presence of the council, [dragging their legs, crying and whimpering, feeling so bad that they’ve been beaten one more time – No!]
It says they were rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Ladies and gentlemen, that ain’t the Body of Christ today! They want to be counted worthy of getting the bennies – benefits. Don’t make me suffer. That’s no worthy to me. The apostles counted it worthy to suffer for Jesus.
Another stronghold for the apostles: humble obedience to Jesus, even in the face of suffering was a stronghold.
(42) And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
I simply love this – not what happens to the apostles, but their response. Imagine the looks of shock and unbelief on the faces of the religious leaders when they hear the apostles shouting and praising and worshipping the Lord. “Didn’t we just have them a beating?” they ask among themselves. “Did we not see their bloody arms, legs and backs? And yet they disobeyed our command again!”
The apostles rejoiced that they were found “worthy enough to suffer shame for Jesus.” Do you see this? The teachings of Jesus had been so engrained in their minds and belief systems that they knew and confessed that they were true! And that’s why they willingly suffered for Him. Oh, give Jesus some praise up in here!
The shadow of Peter falling on some and they were healed and when the apostles prayed for people they were healed. Stronghold. They had drawn a line in the sand. Stronghold
And the stronghold of those same teachings, ladies and gentlemen, is what inspired the apostles to disobey the religious leaders every single day! They were in the temple teaching and preaching Jesus. Every single day! They were in every house teaching and preaching Jesus. Every single day!
Oh Church, we should be on our knees crying out for forgiveness and repenting for not truly laying our lives down for the gospel. Every single day!
Look at Psalm 103. I am so glad David wrote this.
(10) He hath not dealt with us after our sins [For the purpose of this teaching. He has not dealt with us after our silence. He has not dealt with us after our unwillingness to stand and speak for Him. He has not dealt with us after our cowering in the shadows so people wouldn’t know we are Christians.]; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
(11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
(12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Let’s end close with one more stronghold declaration.
“I will always teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Always! He lives in me and His life is now my life. I will boldly and without fear declare the truth that Jesus is the only way to eternal salvation and to the heart of the Father. No one, and no situation, will ever be able to move me from believing this. There is no other gospel than the gospel of Jesus Christ! Amen! Hallelujah! Glory!”
Please stand.
