-took a couple of weeks to address the issue of holiness…
-so while we’re not done with holiness…it’s time to keep moving through the book of Acts…today, specifically, the rest of ch. 5:17-42 (open Bibles…)
Today I ask the question, “Do you have it” -here’s what I mean…
-as I read through ch. 5, I was struck with the way the early followers of Jesus stayed faithful to Him and their mission despite enormous persecution and opposition…
-the last part of ch. 5 is another round of attacks against the infant church by the Jewish religious leaders…
-and I marvel at how the disciples kept going, kept obeying God, were bold, seemed fearless, didn’t give up…they were unstoppable…
* and I want to know why! you should want to know why…because if we can find out why, then there’s some hope for you and I to find the same strength they had not to give up or become discouraged or dis-heartened when things get tough for us as followers of Jesus…
-we too can find what is needed to stay true to Christ despite the challenges we will face…
-the reason these first century people of God stayed faithful and true to God despite enormous persecution was because they had it…they had “it”…
-I want to know what “it” is and I want it too…
I’m certain many of you here today want it too…
Persecuted Church Today
Many of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, part of the persecuted church around the world, have “it”…so blessed at Northgate to regularly hear stories of how these brothers and sisters of ours go through horrendous torture and persecution and imprisonment and so much more for their faith…and they stay true, don’t give up…
-we’re privileged that we can pray for them regularly and support organizations like VOM that make a difference in their lives…
eg. Ingrid…Vietman…(Nigeria, Columbia, met with Xn defectors from N. Korea) -“how do they persevere?”
“the Lord gives them the strength to survive…this is not their own human strength…God preserves, protects…it is their love for the Lord that keeps them faithful…they have found the pearl of great price/the precious treasure of knowing Jesus…
…they know that in their country, persecution of Xns is normal and expected…when they convert they know it will happen so they are not surprised…”
* How much trouble would it take for you and I to crack…fold, give up…walk away from Jesus, deny our faith…what would be my breaking point? how much persecution, suffering because of our faith in Christ?
-I don’t even know… because it hasn’t been tested yet…for most of us, we haven’t been tested yet…
So, let’s discover the “it” that the followers of Jesus had in Acts 5 and see if we have what it takes to stay true to Christ and His mission no matter what may come…more than that, cry out to God to give us whatever it takes to endure whatever may come for the sake of His name…
…Prayer…open Bibles Acts 5…
-in the last part of Acts 5 we see a series of four attacks, crisis points…followers of Jesus got thrown at them…see how they successfully handled each one…because they had “it”…going to discover what the “it” is…
I Snapshot of early church life after the incident with Ann and Sapp…5:12-16…
…Good days…unique season…sp. momentum…
-read with comments…
II The Four Crisis Points
1. the arrest and imprisonment - 5:17-20…(comments…)
-for how many of us would this be the breaking point?
How did they survive this?
* supernatural deliverance…v.19
eg “Heavenly Man” Brother Yun Chinese Xn leader:
“After many years in prison, he escaped from a Maximum Security prison from which it is reported that nobody had ever escaped. He described how he heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, telling him to simply walk out the heavily guarded prison gate. Risking being shot to death on the spot, he wrote later that he obeyed the voice, and walked straight through several prison doors that were somehow left open in front of many prison guards, across the prison yard and finally out of the main gate.
Yun stated that it was as if he had become invisible to the guards who stared straight through him. Although many expressed doubts that such a thing could happen, some prison guards have lost their jobs for this 'embarrassing mishap.' It is reported that the official investigation by the Chinese Government concluded that "Yun received no human help in his escape."
These reports have been also confirmed by numerous prisoners who occupied the same prison cell as Yun.[
He remains the only person to have escaped from this notorious maximum security prison.”
-books of Acts stuff…
Notice v. 20…call is to tell people about new life…that is to be found in the gospel of JC…not about church, programs, religion…
(continue reading vv.21-25…)
2. the re-arrest – 5:26…
-for how many of us would this be the breaking point?
-“again”!? can’t take this…
How did they survive this?
* they didn’t fight back – didn’t resist, run, surrendered calmly…why? trust in God’s sovereign protection…this is God’s supernatural care for His people…recent/growing history with jail…allowed them to be escorted back to jail, even tho unfair and unwarranted… with great assurance in God…
-there’s a difference between being a doormat and being surrendered to God…need wisdom…can’t let people take advantage of us because of our faith…but can’t always fight back…
-it’s an issue of trust in God…where there is great persecution, there is great protection from God…
eg. the two hardest things I’ve had to endure as a pastor…happened number of years ago…was someone threatened to kill me (father of young couple I was trying to help…)
…also I was threatened with legal action and public exposure in the media over counseling advice I had given…spouse of the person took exception to it…also threatened to disrupt a church service…
* 1 Pet 2:20-23…
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
3. interrogation before the Sanhedrin 5:27-32…
-for how many of us would this be the breaking point?
How did they survive this?
a. bold declaration of truth…
-nothing like being bold to make you bold…
eg. VOM newsletter: Chandrashekar, an evangelist in India, was beaten for leading Hindus to Christ and teaching them about the faith. He was then imprisoned and accused of converting people by force.
Soon after his release, he lost his only source of income, but he continues his ministry on the front lines in India.
“Before I had ... fear of the radical group's attack,” he said. “But after that my fear is gone. Now I can share the gospel with much boldness.”
b. unexpected favor and help from an unlikely source
-Gamaliel saves the day…God supernaturally at work in him to cause Him to say this… read 5:33-40…
-great when someone from the “other side” supports your stand…defends you…
4. flogging and release 5:40-42…
-for how many of us would this be the breaking point?
How did they survive this?
* patient endurance, physical protection…joy!
-glad that they could suffer disgrace for the sake of JC
-had the grace to be disgraced for Jesus…
-only deepened their resolve to speak, teach about JC
1 Peter 4:12-17
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. …if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Conclusion
What is the “it”? -not easy to define, understand…
-like trying to sum up the whole Xn experience…
** we partially discover what the “it” is…in v.32…
* firsthand encounter with the living Jesus…thru which we are made alive by the HS…resulting in unstoppable obedience…
-when you are supernaturally captured by God in a powerful way…He changes your life…God gives you a faith that can stand strong against any onslaught of trouble…
eg. why are you still following Jesus? why haven’t you given up, turned away? some of you after all these years?
-I had a powerful encounter with God just over 40 years ago…He drew me to Himself, showed me His love, gave me His forgiveness…changed my life…fell hopelessly in love with Jesus and I’ve never gotten over Him…
Do you have it? do you want it?…the kind of rel. with JC that
a. keeps you faithful, true through persecution, opposition, trouble, etc.?
-I want to…don’t you? tell God that…
-it’s more of a gift from Him than something you make happen…
b. in which you surrender being in charge of your life and willingly re-order your life acc. to God’s values, priorities and truth found in the Bible?
eg. money, time, plans, holy choices vs. sinful
c. keeps me faithful to the mission/call…
-serve God, share the gospel with the lost…
** Do you have a relationship with JC at all? if not… salvation…
Prayer…Worship…