When it’s of God…
Acts 5:17-42
When we lived in New Hampshire, about this time of year the Striper Bass would begin to swim up the coast of Maine and sometimes we would go out at high tide and fish for them off the rocky coast at York, Maine. Roy Smith, from West Virginia, was a sportsman through and through. He would always round up a bunch of us from church and plan a fishing trip for Striper Bass. You’ve got to understand. Roy did this with a zeal and zest that made you think the world depended on it! On the day of the big trip, Roy would be marching around making sure all of us had all the gear we needed and that we left on time to hit the rising tide. By the way, it might be 2:30 in the morning, but that only added to the sense of urgency and energy. To be fair, Roy was that way about a lot of things. Jenny used to see him in that determined mode and say, “Now there’s a man on a mission!” Frank Perreault would say, “Yeah, Roy’s on another mission from God!”
I must say, I’ve rarely seen such zeal and determination for catching a fish as Roy Smith. Almost everything in his life, he did with a passion, and when he was baptized he burst out of the water ready to take on the hosts of hell.
There are many things that call for our commitment in this life. God designed us in such a way that we experience our greatest fulfillment when we are giving ourselves fully to a life we believe in. Another great meaning of membership in the church Jesus died for is that you can give yourself fully to the cause that you know is of God. We are called to a heavenly kingdom cause that deserves and demands us to pour out our deepest passions. What we are doing is of God! If this were just of human origin, we could excuse half hearted commitment and distracted dedication. But this is of God! Listen to Peter’s words 1 Peter 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
As a member of the church Jesus died for you and I have the incredible honor of participating in a calling of God, a mission from God, and a membership among fellow men and women who are marching by the same orders and following the same commander in chief, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Now… Whether we act like it or not, that doesn’t change the truth. Whether we fully commit or believe it or not, that doesn’t diminish the character of the cause of God. It only tells on us.
This world is filled with human causes that stir human hearts to passion. Some are worthy and some are insignificant. Some are compatible with the cause of Christ and some compete with the cause of Christ or are distracting or even in opposition to it. For some things, it depends on your attitude toward them. For instance, how would you classify the UT/Florida football game? Is that of God or of men… Someone says, “That depends on the final score!” It is amazing how excited people can become over such things. Now let me ask you something. What do you allow to draw out your deepest emotional energy and stir your deepest passions? This is an important question. As we explore the text today we witness a clash of good and evil. Both sides are committed to their cause. One is of God, the other is not.
Listen, when it’s of God, give yourself fully over to it. When it’s of God, refuse anything that competes with it, distracts you from it or stands in opposition to it. When it’s of God, walk in it, live by it, and even rejoice over the honor of suffering for it.
Last Sunday night I did a lesson about the adventure of the faith. I heard some feedback that let me know that my point was being missed by some. Listen… God doesn’t give us permission to go wild and take risks just for the sake of fulfilling some fleshly passion and desire. Men (and women) can get wild and crazy over many worldly things. But that’s not of God. Remember when Satan tempted Jesus? He took him to the highest point of the temple and quoted scripture to him telling him to throw himself down and rely on the care of God to catch him. Satan said, “If you are the Son of God, do it!” Jesus reply is very important. Jesus quotes the scripture right back and says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test!” We sometimes need help distinguishing between what is of God and what is of my own making or someone elses.
When you are sure it is of God, take the risk, pay the price, sacrifice everything if need be. But pray for wisdom to know when it is of God. Search the scriptures to prove when it is of God. By all means we don’t want to be found fighting against God.
Let’s look at our text. Here we see that even though God was showing his approval of the gospel of Christ with miracles and signs, and even though many were believing and being added to the church, the opposition only saw it as a threat. Scanning down through the text here in Acts 5:17-42 just look at the emotions that are mentioned. First notice that of the opposition. They were passionate about their positions and ready to protect their power and exert pressure against all that came against them.
Look at verse 17: They were filled with jealousy.
Verse 24: They were greatly perplexed.
Verse 26 They were afraid of the people.
Verse 33 They were filled with fury or cut to the heart.
Compare that to the only emotion we find describing the apostles: verse 41 They were rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
And think about this… The first time Peter and John faced this counsel they were sent out with a warning to keep silent about Jesus. They refused the warning, gathered to pray for boldness and kept on preaching Jesus.
This second time all the apostles face this counsel and this time they are beaten and warned to keep silent about Jesus and sent out.
What do you think they did?
Look at verse 42: Every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Are these men crazy? Don’t they know when to stop?
Listen… These were men on a mission from God. They believed it, they embraced it, and they acted like it. What would it take to silence them? Death! (And even then the Holy Spirit speaks through their writings). Why? They were fully convinced that their mission is of God!
Now, listen carefully… Let me put it to you as a question. Are you and I are members of the same church, with the same mission and the same master as them? The greatest fulfillment in life comes to those that believe it, embrace it and act like it.
The great adventure of the faith is fully giving our lives to Christ, his calling, cause and kingdom. It is of God!
Listen to the message of these men: Acts 2:22-24, 3:13-16, 4:8-12, 5:28-32. It didn’t matter who they spoke to, the message stayed the same. Do you begin to get the similarity? Look at Acts 5:42. What do you suppose they said about Jesus Christ? Just imagine if each one of us left here and went door to door telling people these words: God has sent his Son, Jesus the Christ and you are responsible for killing him. But God raise him from the dead and exalted Jesus to his right hand as Leader and Savior to give us repentance and forgiveness of sins. Are you willing to follow him?
Paul a converted opponent of Jesus Christ went to Corinth and listen to what he said he preached: 1 Cor. 2:1-5.
Jesus, God’s Son, crucified and killed for and because of my sins and yours, raised from the dead by God and reigning at the right hand of the Almighty today, putting all enemies under his feet, the only name by which we can be saved… This Jesus invites you and me to become part of his family, his kingdom, his cause. What is your response?
Our lesson today is a demonstration of what can happen to unschooled, ordinary men who spend time with Jesus and accepted the call and commission of Christ.
Let’s just read the text and I’ll offer the invitation.
Acts 5:17-42
We have the Jewish leaders who see this whole Christian movement as a threat. We have Gamaliel who has the wisdom to show caution, but not conviction. We have the apostles who are bold and vigorous for the faith. Where do you see yourself in this scripture? Who best represents your relationship with Christ?
Jesus is inviting you today to submit to his Lordship and follow his leadership. Whether you’ve been a Christian for years and just need a revival, or perhaps you are not a Christian and are ready to make a commitment to Jesus today. Come, while he calls you and we sing to encourage you.
