You Can't Fight Against God

YOU CAN'T FIGHT AGAINST GOD

Acts 5:12-42

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: The Devil Provided

1. There was a poor woman who lived next door to an atheist. He often mocked her faith and derided her “imaginary friend.” One day he overheard her praying for some groceries. He went out and bought a couple of sacks of groceries and put them on her porch first thing in the morning, and stood nearby.

2. She opened the door, saw the groceries, and exclaimed, “Praise God, He’s answered my prayers!” He stepped out and said smugly, “It wasn’t God that overheard you and bought those groceries, it was me that did that! Ha!”

3. She said, “Then I praise God even more!” “What for?” he said. “Because not only did He provide me groceries but that He made the devil pay for them!”

B. TEXT

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people....14 more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. 17 Then the high priest and all his associates...were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out....27 The high priest [said] 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But...Gamaliel, a teacher of the law...stood up in the Sanhedrin...35 [and said] “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody....He was killed... and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared ....He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.... 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 5:12-42

C. THESIS

1. Church, we’re on the winning side! Who can stop what God’s doing?

2. Today we’re looking at how God used an enemy to save the life of the apostles and reveal a great truth about how God’s work cannot fail.

3. The title of this message is “You Can't Fight Against God.”

I. SUCCESS OF THE EARLY CHURCH

A. THE APOSTLES SUCCESS, ARREST, DELIVERANCE

1. The apostles were out speaking the truth and it was having a result; the church was growing like crazy. People were being healed, demons were driven out. Multitudes began thronging Jerusalem, hoping Peter’s shadow might fall on a sick relative.

2. But all this attention & crowds made the Jewish leaders jealous! They wanted to be the center of attention. So they arrested the apostles & put them in jail. An angel let them out & they preached again. They were rearrested.

B. THEIR TRIAL, DANGER, & REPRIEVE

1. When confronted, the apostles had the audacity not to be afraid of the Jewish leaders. They said God was on their side. The Jewish Council had killed the Messiah, but God had raised Him from the dead. And God had given Jesus’ disciples the power of the Holy Spirit because they were obeying Him.

2. The NIV says the Council became furious. The KJV says they were “cut to the heart.” We’d say “cut to the bone.” They were wounded by Holy Spirit conviction. But instead of repenting, it turned into anger. The Bible says they were ready to put the apostles to death. A miracle was needed. Into this moment stepped an unlikely ally named Gamaliel.