WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Acts 4:14-22
INTRODUCTION:
A. Have you ever been a position that you needed to know what to do?
1. Do we sell or hold on to our stock or house?
2. Do we need this or that type of insurance?
3. Should we buy a new car or continue to repair the old one?
4. Most of us have had to make a decision and had to wrestle with it.
B. There are time is our spiritual lives we have to wrestle with some things as well.
1. Can I afford not to devote so and so amount of time to prayer and Bible reading?
2. I know I need to do more of both but how to get it done is beyond me – What Shall I Do?
C. Many will do the same thing with life’s path.
1. What good is religion – with so many, What Shall I Do?
2. Confronted with the gospel they probably often wonder, What Shall I Do? – I know I did.
D. Well in our scripture passage for this evening we have that type of scenario.
1. The question, What Shall We Do? was on everybody’s mind.
a. First those of the world were asking, What Shall We Do?
b. Secondly, Christians were asking What shall We Do?
2. Decisions were made that day that ultimately forged their futures – even eternal destinies.
3. It is the same today and will be until the end of time
4. May God help us to see the possible answers to the question What Shall We Do? and may he help us to come to the right answer.
PRAY
We begin this evening by looking at
I. THE WORLD – WHAT SHALL WE DO? Acts 4:14-18, 21-22 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. [15] But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, [16] Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. [17] But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. [18] And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus…So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. [22] For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
A. A miracle had been performed by Jesus – the lame man was standing right in front of the crowd.
1. The council looked upon him and could not deny it
2. In fact they even commented that a notable miracle had been done
3. They could not deny it
4. Hence the question, What shall we do with these men?
B. This group of people had occasion to witness a God size miracle in their midst and instead of owning up to the “Facts” there only thought was how to defuse the situation and keep their so called “religious” system, their own life’s view, in tacked.
1. Any time the gospel is given, which it was in Acts 3 leading up to the healing, people will react in many different ways.
2. In Acts 17 Paul preached a message on Mars Hill.
a. Following the message we read this account of what happened, And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. [33] So Paul departed from among them. [34] Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: Acts 17:32-34
b. Note three things:
1) Some mocked
2) Some wanted to hear more
3) Some believed
3. To this list we can add that of our present text – disbelief despite the facts – followed by hatred and persecution
4. We should expect any of these things.
a. The mocking often comes due to a lack of knowledge or spiritual conviction, something only God can give.
b. Those who want to hear more may have a working of the Spirit but either do not understand or have not come to a conviction of their need.
c. Those who get saved of course have been convicted of their need, repented and asked the Lord for salvation in Christ
d. Those in our passage probably had a tinge of conviction but chose rather to ignore it, thus taking action to keep it from happening again. What Shall We Do?
e. In closing his discussion on this portion of scripture in his commentary on Acts Rev. Thomas Whitelaw wrote “When men will not do the obviously right thing, it is no wonder they become perplexed in choosing the best of the things. Wrongs things are never best.”
C. Now I bring this up to you, the church, because we need to understand that when we present the gospel people are going to face the question, What Should We Do?
1. In this case the folks decided to threaten – they felt threatened, maybe even judged and this was their defense
- Remember these were the leaders of the day and they commanded that they not speak His name, the name of Jesus, nor teach in His name
2. This is a possibility in today as well.
3. The gospel condemns sin.
a) Jesus died to save sinners – all have sinned – Jesus died to save all
b) Jesus’ death was a substitute for ours – we deserved it, yet He took it
c) God owes us nothing, yet offers us eternal life in His Son
d) There is not other way – it is Jesus or nothing
4. This is not a popular message
5. The push to eliminate Jesus and His name has already started: in government, public schools, public arenas and stores
a. That it could go further can be seen in the push to make speaking against homosexuality a hate crime
- Some want a law that would state to call homosexuality an abomination or sinful behavior is a crime.
- There may come a time in our nation where we will be told not to speak the name of Jesus or teach in His name.
b. Closing this section in his commentary on Acts, the Rev. Thomas Whitelaw wrote, “When men will not do the obviously right thing, it is no wonder they become perplexed in choosing the best of the wrong things – wrong things are never best.”
c. The time could come when we are threatened and told not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus – when men will try to pick the best of the wrong things.
D. The World – What Shall They Do?
1. The best answer is accept Jesus as Lord and Savior but it is not the only answer.
2. They will chose others: be open; mock; even get angry
3. It is their choice and we are not responsible for their choice
4. They will be accountable for their choice.
This brings us to a different story. What about us?
II. CHRISTIAN – WHAT SHALL WE DO? Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. [20] For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
A. The Situation
1. Peter and John have been brought before the same group of people that in sited the crowd to yell “crucify Him” at Jesus trial and saw to it that Jesus Christ the Messiah was put to death.
2. They did not want to be reminded of this “Jesus” and were not happy that the disciples were preaching and healing in His name.
3. We can only guess what may have been going through the disciple’s minds when they were arrested.
4. Then came the moment of truth – they are threatened and told not to speak in the name of Jesus again – What would they do?
B. They Stood Their Ground for Jesus!
1. Undoubtedly they were still filled with the Holy Spirit (referenced in 4:8) this cannot be over emphasized
a. We will not stand in the face of degrading persecution without it
b. It is easy to stand when things are great and no trouble seems to be in sight but what about in this type of scenario?
c. The scriptures talk a lot about those who endure – endure to the end.
d. Could it be that strength under pressure is the ultimate sign of possession of salvation rather than simple profession?
e. Did not Jesus say, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Matt 10:32-33
2. Having been told to “clam up” the disciples retorted with two comments
a. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
1) In today’s English we might say it this way: What shall we do? Should we listen to you or to God?
2) It is a question each of us needs to examine – it is a valid question.
3) It will come into play many times in our life time: What Shall I Do – listen to God or to man?
4) And being that he was speaking to a religious crowd he added the …judge ye.
a) The implication would be – You tell us: should we obey God or man?
b) It added emphasis, that even in the face of possible danger, God is still to be obeyed.
b. The second phrase was For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
1) They had to be true to what they knew to be right
a) This is one of the strongest arguments against the gospel story and Jesus just being a fable made up by men to gain status or following.
b) Men will lie to gain status or a following, but they will not die – especially the way many of these would die - for a lie!
2) They had seen the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ so they knew it was true, thus their message was filled with conviction and power.
3. They were neither concerned nor afraid what man could do unto them because they were convinced that Jesus would be true to His word.
4. They would have agreed with what Paul would later write, I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Tim. 1:12
C. How About Us, What Shall We Do?
1. Will we stand up and be counted with the faithful of the past?
2. Will we proclaim the Word of God and the Gospel regardless of the possible consequences or will we be bullied into keeping our mouths shut?
3. Here is where our heart should be: Listen to the Apostle Paul:
a. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
b. 1 Cor. 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
4. Folks the understanding of our own brush with hell and our knowledge of the destiny of all those who do not hear and obey the gospel should move us to compassion and action.
5. We should not, yea we cannot, let the voice of government, the attitude of society, or the cruelty of the human heart keep us from proclaiming the good news – the gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying and hell bound world.
6. We must stand with Peter and proclaim what we have heard, believed and seen – the salvation of the Lord!
CONCLSUION: In closing I ask
A. What Shall We Do?
1. We must stand for the Lord and proclaim His most holy word and the gospel of Jesus Christ!
2. We must stand as the Apostle Paul and humbly proclaim Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. [11] It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: [13] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Tim. 2:10-13
B. What Shall We Do? What Shall You Do?
