OUR PORTION
Acts 4:23-31
INTRODUCTION:
A. Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
1. There has been quite a bit of fall out over one little healing and the preaching of the gospel.
a. In Acts 3:1-11 Peter and John healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus Christ
b. Peter then preached a short and simple message: the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priests, temple captain and Sadducces were grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. Acts 4:2
2. For this they were arrested and taken to prison, the next day they stood before Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others and were questioned about what they did.
3. Peter preached essentially the same message as before and they did not like it.
4. The Jewish counsel then charged them and threatened them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus
5. John and Peter said they would do what was right in God’s eyes not man’s and they were released.
B. All this over a simple healing (something you would think people would praise) and speaking in the name of Jesus Christ.
1. It sounds so petty.
2. But it is happening today – have you heard about the military Chaplin’s problem?
a. They have been told they can’t use the name of Jesus in prayer – especially closing in Jesus’ name!
b. It has even gotten a lot of people not wanting to say Jesus’ name on a school campus in fear of a law suit by some self-righteous group like the ACLU.
C. Folks let me take you to God’s word:
1. Jesus said:
a. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. John 15:20
b. Then in Rev. 2:10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
2. Peter wrote under the inspiration of God: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13
3. And it was Paul that wrote to Timothy, 2 Tim. 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
4. This is Our Portion in this world
D. This being the case how are we to handle it? What should we do?
1. Should we shout and scream, “That’s not fair you raunchy no good government officials?
2. Should we cause a riot or start a revolution?
3. NO I don’t think so, our passage shows us what to do, that is:
a. Lift up the God in Praise
b. Lift up the Church in Prayer
c. Lift up the Gospel in Power
E. And may God receive all the glory He is so worthy of!
PRAY
When these disciples left their persecutor’s presence, they did not go to the nearest lawyers office and file a petition, they went straight back to the church and told them all that had happened and with that the church
I. LIFTED UP GOD IN PRAISE, Acts 4:24-28 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: [25] Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? [26] The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. [27] For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, [28] For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
A. This may be hard for most of us in the West in our day to fathom – the disciples were threatened, no doubt with their lives though we are not told, and they went back and praised God?
1. Yes – their focus was not on themselves but on God
2. God had been glorified in both the healing and the witness to the beggar and religious elite of their day
3. God provided the circumstances and opportunities to do so – so why not!
B. They took this opportunity to praise God for all things – they praised God
1. For being the Creator v. 24
a. 1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
b. God as creator is all powerful and wise.
2. For His Prophetic word - Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? [26] The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Acts 4:25-26
a. These words were first spoken by David and recorded in Psalm 2:1-2 and people saw the word of God coming true in their very presence.
b. They saw the truthfulness of God’s words a praise worthy – do we?
3. For His Christ - Acts 4:26b-27 …the Lord and against His Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,…
a. Christ our redeemer, the Jewish Messiah, the Anointed One
b. He was before the world was – He is the great I AM!
c. Certainly, irregardless of what man is doing or what the circumstances are in our petty part of the world, CHRIST is worthy be exalted and praised!
4. And finally for His Sovereignty - Acts 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
a. The disciples understood that Christ’s destiny was foreordained before the world was ever set in motion
b. Thus they understood their lives were in His hands as well – He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and all sufficient So of God in all things!
C. They could praise God even in the midst of trials because they saw Him for who He was God Almighty!
1. We can do no less
2. Remember we know from His word, …all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
Following their extensive time of praise they began to
II. LIFT UP THE CHURCH IN PRAYER, Acts 4:29-30 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, [30] By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Their petition was simple, they asked for three things
A. First, Boldness to Speak.
1. Today we often get side tracked with how to get back at those who defy or defile us.
2. We want to get even or at least get our “just” reward or due.
3. What the church really needs is a group of fired up people who will proclaim the gospel at any and all cost!
4. In light of all that is taking place in our own country we need to ask God to give us boldness to speak in Jesus’ name and preach the resurrection of the dead.
5. God, you see what their doing with prayer in school, your ten commandments in public, homosexuality, and the like. They have made your name a pot shard and a spittoon. Give us boldness to speak in your name and proclaim the resurrection of the dead, beginning with our Lord Jesus Christ! Should be our prayer!
6. We don’t need a government to assure us, courts to validate us or a false religion to accept us: we need boldness to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ!
B. Second, A Hand to Heal
1. First and foremost a hand to heal the spiritual sickness of man
a. “Give me souls lest I die,” one missionary proclaimed.
b. May we see a great awakening of the souls of men to the gospel of God – it will only happen if God grants it.
1) He must draw
2) He must give faith
3) He must awaken
4) He must give light
c. Father, stretch forth your hand and heal the soul!
2. But there is another area for God’s healing hand – He is still a gracious healer – the Great Physician
a. Pray for God’s healing in subtle and miraculous ways
b. We are praying for a young lady by the name of Rachelle to walk again – the doctors give her only 8% possibility, but my God has done a lot more with a lot less – AMEN!
c. We can still pray for God to heal the sick to the praise of His glory!
C. Third, For Wonders to be Done
1. Our God is still a miracle working God
2. We are praying for land – God can and will give us what we need in His timing and I am praying that it will come about in such a way as the community will have to stand in awe and admit that it was a miracle from God!
3. There is an orphanage in Zambia Africa that is needing a “wonder” to be performed if they are to carry out the task God has given pastor Chanda.
4. There is no end to the wonders that God has done and will do in the name of His holy child Jesus!
5. Let’s pray for them and give God the glory when He brings them to pass!
In response to persecution Christians should lift up God in praise, lift up the church in prayer and thirdly
III. LIFT UP THE GOSPEL IN POWER, Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
A. Christians, following lifting up praise to our most Gracious God and praying for boldness we need to get out and lift up the gospel, through its proclamation, in power.
1. Did not Jesus say: All power is given unto me and You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you?
2. Does not the Apostle Paul proclaim that it was the gospel that was the power of God unto salvation?
3. The power is still there today – the problem is not with God or the gospel, it is with us!
4. We need to pray, believe and proclaim the gospel with boldness, enthusiasm, and love
5. For we know that it is the word of God that brings faith (Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.)
6. It is God’s word – the gospel more specifically – that has the key to salvation
C. Notice three words in this verse
1. Shaken - We need to be shaken to the core and convinced that the gospel is true and absolutely necessary for salvation
2. Filled – We need to be filled with the Holy Ghost: holy and godly, seeking God with all our hearts mind souls and strength
3. Spake – we need to speak the gospel message boldly at every opportunity
CONCLUSION:
A. It is Our Portion to be persecuted for the faith but we are not to despair.
1. Our Lord spoke these words, recorded for us in Matt 5:10-11 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
2. We are not to react to mistreatment the way the world reacts
3. We are to be different.
B. It is this difference that the world needs to see and the Lord commands.
1. Let God be the judge of all things
2. And here is a promise to close with Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matt 5:12
