Series: Action [#12]
WHAT MATTERS TO GOD?
Acts 5:17-42
Introduction:
This situation with all of the looting, destruction, and violence needs to stop. This idea of only black lives matter is out of control. Any other race of people that would say that their race is the only race that matters would be called racist. Grant Napear, longtime Sacramento Kings TV broadcaster resigned Tuesday after he tweeted, “All lives matter… Every single one!” He tweeted that in response to DeMarcus Cousins’ question about his opinion on the Black Lives Matters Movement. The 60-year-old Grant was also fired by KTHK Sports 1140 in Sacramento.
I do not understand what is racist about saying, “All lives matter… Every single one!” We could spend a lot of time talking about this; but it really isn’t the important question here. Let me ask the question that really matters- “What matters to God?”
Acts 5:17-19
What matters to God?
1. God’s children.
The religious leaders hated Jesus; and they hated all of His followers. They were jealous of the Apostles and Christian’s success. There were people being saved daily and the religious leaders were losing their power and prestige.
The Apostles were arrested for their belief in Jesus. Their relationship with Jesus caused them to be hated by some. How did they get through these types of things? God’s love for them. God loves His children. His children matter to Him. (Only Christians are His children.)
Acts 5:20-32
2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and let them out. The angel told them to go out to the Temple Court and tell everyone that would listen about eternal life through Jesus Christ. Because God loves all people, He desires that they are saved. To God, “All lives do matter”.
John 3:16
When Jesus became the sins of the world on the cross, He became the sins of everyone; and when He died for those sins, He died for everyone’s sins. When Jesus had victory over sin, death, Hell, and Satan; that victory is offered to all who will accept Jesus’ gift of salvation.
Galatians 3:28
All lives matter to God. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that brings us all together, not protests and violence.
Acts 5:33-42
What matters to God?
3. The truth.
The religious leaders wanted the Apostles dead. It is interesting to me how God uses those who do not know Him as Savior to sometimes teach His truths. Gamaliel, (a Pharisee) had the Apostles taken outside so that he could reason with these other religious leaders. He gave them a history lesson in those who had claimed to be the Messiah and when they died, their followers scattered.
His words of guidance in verses 38-39 are exactly right- “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.” Right there is God’s truth- “If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” That’s exactly what has been happening throughout history- People have been battling against God; and their only hope is through the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
I have to be very honest with each of you- I have considered that there could be some “backlash” for this sermon. Maybe not from those that are in the congregation today; but possibly from someone who reads this on Sermon Central or listens to the video of the sermon. Unlike many others, I am not going to apologize for preaching the truth of God’s Word- Jesus died and had victory on the 3rd day for all people regardless of their skin color, political affiliation, position in society, or any other thing that people invent to cause strife.
All lives matter. If that was not true, Jesus would not have paid the price for the sins of the World. In these times, Christians need to lift up Jesus Christ so that people will be saved.
