Sermons

Obeying God - Standing Firm

August 13, 2021 Preacher: Gareth Franks Series: Acts - The Gospel in Motion

Topic: Christian Living, The Church Scripture: Acts 5:12–42

We have a lengthy passage before us today – 30 verses in total. As we examine this passage, we can see four elements that this early church had which propelled them forward to being a church on mission, a church that could rejoice in the face of persecution as they sought to fulfil that mission. The first element I want you to see is:

1. The Prelude (v.12-16)                                                                                         

2. The Prison (v.17-21a)                                                                                       

3. The Preaching (v.21b-39)                                                                                   

4. The Punishment (v.40-42)

Persecution is intended to reveal and to reorient the source of our joy. “Persecution will refine the church, but not destroy it. If it leads to prayer and praise, to an acknowledgement of the sovereignty of God and of solidarity with Christ in his sufferings, then—however painful—it may even be welcome.”

John Flavel said it well: The knowledge of Jesus Christ is fundamental to all comforts: all the comforts of believers are streams from this fountain. Jesus Christ is the very object matter of a believer’s joy, Phil. 3: 3. “Our rejoicing is in Christ Jesus.” Take away the knowledge of Christ, and a Christian is the most sad and melancholy creature in the world: again, let Christ but manifest himself, and dart the beams of his light into their souls, it will make them kiss the stakes, sing in flames, and shout in the pangs of death, as men that divide the spoil.

The opposition faced by the church resulted in more proclamation. We might expect the opposition to frighten them into silence, but this was not the case. Acts 5:42 “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

It is so easy to look within at our circumstances, to sit there licking our wounds, to feel sorry for the rough deal we have been given... and be distracted from the very purpose for which we have been saved. We can easily get overwhelmed by the current COVID situation and circumstance we find ourselves in. Or we find our strength and purpose in Christ, like the first N.T. Church, and grow through the trials we face.

Jesus gave his followers and by extension he gave to us the target in Acts 1:8… to be JESUS’ witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Discussion Questions

1. How can the church today recover a sense of the fear of God’s holiness?

2. Should we be seeing God work more miracles? Is our little faith to blame?

3. When is it right to disobey civil authority? Should Christians try to topple an evil ruler (such as Hitler)?

4. How aggressive should we be in proclaiming Christ? Where’s the balance between tact and boldness?

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