What The Angel Could Not Do

The early church was certainly active at this time. Souls being saved, people being blessed. Bodies being healed; & revival spirit was flowing. Note some 3 or 4 things with by way of introduction.

Acts 5:12 tells us: And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

Here are 3 reasons why such miracles were permitted.

1.It helped keep the church together: verse 12 (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

It was not the time for them to be scattered.

2.It brought about some respect for the Apostles. Acts 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them:but the people magnified them.

God’s true men must be respected. Not as lords! But as servants of the most High God.

3.It caused the Church to increase in number. Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

This is God’s great purpose in His work today.

In verse 17 we see the Devil at work also...

For never did any good work go on with any hope of success. But it met with opposition. Satan, the destroyer, ever was, & ever is an imposing adversary.

1.Who Satan used as his tool: Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

The high priest, & religious crowd. Plenty of them around even today!

Satan delights in causing turmoil among religious ranks. That way he keeps us focused on problems. Not souls for Christ.

2.How God’s Servants Were Treated: Acts 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. This was an effort to degrade God’s people.

3.The Procedure the Lord Took to Release Them Acts 5:19-20 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

The Lord intends to keep His work moving.

LET US NOTICE WHAT THE ANGEL COULD NOT DO.

I.HE COULD NOT GO IN MAN’S STEAD

Here the angel commanded the Apostles to GO.

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

I’m sure this angel would have delighted to go, for the Lord. For you see he had his habitation with the Lord. But Angels cannot go in man’s stead.

In Luke 14:16-23 The Parable of the Great Supper.

Luke 14:21 gives us some things to do. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

Streets - city streets

Lanes - small streets

The poor - poor sections

Maimed - half blind, hospitals filled with them.

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Highways - each leading in & out of our city

Every house, business, service station

Hedges - rural roads, country roads,& rural areas. Sounds like Floresville, Poth, & Stockdale.

2.HE COULD NOT STAND WHERE MAN NEEDS TO STAND

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Stand in the temple (Our church)

A.The place God designed for His people to meet. (More than just a building).

B.The place where the world knows as Heaven oriented.

C. A Place that was designed & set aside. Dedicated as a place to worship God.

D.The place where Christians can come together for peace.

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

3.HE COULD NOT SPEAK THE MESSAGE THAT MAN MUST SPEAK

Speak to the people all the words of this life.

Surely this angel would have loved to speak to the people the Gospel of Redemption.

But man was redeemed not angels.

Man was lost not angels.

Man was held captive by sin, not angels,

So Man Must Speak.

All the words of this life are words of:

A.The Blood

1.Redeeming bought us back Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

2.Sin removing Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;and without shedding of blood is no remission.