To the Ends of the Earth, Part 7
God’s Answer to the World’s Persecution
Acts 5:12-25
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)
-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)
-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)
- Last week we unpacked a real truth that is pertinent for us today:
-- Watch your life and be consistent for God in everything you do (live upright)
-- If you are going to worship, going to give, going to pray – do it focused on Him!
-- Why? We have a very narrow path to follow when it comes to obedience
- Today, we will dig a little deeper in the first persecution of the NT church
-- Understand this: persecution is common; it means discrimination / harassment
-- Persecution is guaranteed, in one form or another, whenever Gospel is taught
-- What is critical about persecution is the results – rather than the act itself
-- If the outcome is left to God, then His glory/praise is the result
- Read Acts 5:12-25 / Pray
- TR: There are two questions to be answered today from Acts 5 (handout)
Point 1 – Why were the Disciples persecuted?
- What exactly were the disciples doing? PREACHING and HEALING!
-- But more than that … don’t miss: they were doing what Jesus told them to do!
-- Matthew 28:19, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
- As they spoke, lives were being changed & more continued to come to Christ
-- Consider: Standing outside of Walmart just sharing your faith today!
-- Bold? Yes! Because there will always be resistance to the Gospel …
-- We are given a 5 reasons why the persecution happened: (vv12-16)
1. Signs and wonders caused persecution … crowd saw many signs & wonders
-- The world does not want to see these – nor do they understand them
• Miracles show the ignorance and the inability of man
• Miracles also show (prove) that someone else in charge (anti-man’s control)
• Miracles disturb men and reminds them of their spiritual need or condition
- Yet – because of this, persecution can bring great unity among believers
-- While in the garden Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
2. Public worship causes persecution – frankly, it exposes “worldly fears”
-- Here is the motive: What if those pesky Christians are right?
-- The “world” will always fear the sincere pull of God to repentance
-- The commitment of the church to meet together is the greatest example of this!
-- Hebrews 10:24-25, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
3. They’re willing to separate from the world – they stand apart from society
-- Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”
- Evangelism declares the glory of God, and it is confused & hated by world
-- It reveals a great commitment of the church to go into the world & share
-- Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” The truth brings repentance!
4. They choose to go out into the world – they challenge people to change
-- Our command is to change the world by declaring who He is
-- It is not about creating this or that initiative; but showing Jesus; promise …
-- Isaiah 9:7, “His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
5. Having church, or meeting together, causes persecution!
-- True believers see an opportunity for strength by participating in the Church
-- But the world looks at it as some sort of “cult-like” activity; it’s foreign to them
-- This leads to mocking and ridiculing; and sets you apart (or at odds) with world
-- EX: Remember when Sunday was a family day? Kids sports = prime day!
- CH: When you know the why’s, recognizing persecution is simple:
-- The main motive behind it is one simple word: Jealousy (v17) GR: zelos
- REM: The persecutors were the religionists & secular leaders of the world
-- APP: Peter & John were arrested & jailed for doing what they were told to do!
-- This was an attempt to silence them – to scare them – and to shame them
- APP: The world thinks it can defeat God by adding worldly restrictions to Him
-- Truth: They completely forget that nothing on Earth really belongs to them!
- Jesus promised this would occur; even encouraged them/us before it happened!
-- John 15:20, “Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.”
- TR: If we know persecution exists, then we ought to be able to answer …
Point 2 – How does God deliver us from persecution?
- Know this: God provides a way and delivers them to be released!
• An angel of the Lord comes and facilitates their release (v19) (miraculous)
• AND he comes with very clear instructions (v20) – continue to speak!
- FACT: God often delivers His promises with comfort or an assurance of hope
-- 1 Cor 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” APP: God is still in charge, even during the worst persecution!
- True, God sometimes delivers believers back to Himself – by taking them home
-- (side note: see this next few weeks as believers give their life willingly)
- But even “cooler”, is when God delivers believers from their troubles
-- Promise: Jeremiah 1:8, “And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
- God’s purpose for Peter and John was go, to stand, and to speak (v20)
-- GR: poreuomai (poor - e – o - my); I travel (urgently)
-- GR: histémi (he – stem - ee); to make a stand (unwaveringly)
-- GR: laleó (la - low); to speak (speak what???)
-- GR: “t? rhema tes zóés houtos”; All the words of this life!
- BIG: Go and preach the whole Gospel of Salvation!
-- Leave nothing out – let them know there is no other way – share it openly!
-- RE: Jesus said (Matt 28:19) to GO; other translit.: “As you are going” (active)
-- Actually, in the Greek (above), it is present tense: poreuomai; I travel / journey
- PROMISE: God is still going to provide for you, so your trust is found in Him!
- In short, they were set free by God, but they did not go into hiding! (read 24-25)
-- They were not afraid to continue telling because they knew Who they spoke of!
- You and I can, and must, live in the same manner … especially if we know Jesus!
-- Listen to the wisdom of Peter later in his life: 1 Peter 4:16-19, “But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also (he’s quoting Proverbs 11:31), “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” (watch) So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.”
BIG IDEA
- APP: The Christian must proclaim what they know! Even under duress!
-- Consider last week: The greatest example that you’ve spent time with God is by taking a look at what comes out of you when you go into the world! (exp…)
-- Will we share the simple message, and the hope, of what God has done for us?
- Pray
