The Message and the Opposition
The Message and the Opposition
The Church is gaining momentum and would need God inspired catalyst for more growth. The catalyst would come in the form of persecution and imprisonment of the apostles. God would have to send His angel to release the apostles from prison for the sole purpose of preaching the gospel. “19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." Acts 5:19-20.
God was determined to get the gospel of life to all mankind. Nothing could stand on the way as Jesus said that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. Even within the opposition and persecution, God would even inspire some to work for His purpose. Let’s see case of Gamaliel.
Acts 5: 27-42 (Please read entire chapter 5)
27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, 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. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.[b]
Here are my observations in addition to the ones that you have:
1. The authorities are not sure what to do with the apostles since the angel intervened and released the apostles from prison. God can and will confuse the opposition at any time for His purpose. Don’t be afraid of opposition. God is with us.
2. Notice the Message of the gospel to be preached as instructed by the angel of God. The angel said, “Tell the people the full message of this new life”. What “new life”? It is the new life given by the Holy Spirit out-pouring on the day of Pentecost. Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). The apostles preached the new life they had received from the Holy Spirit. We must do the same and not preach a different gospel.
3. The Message of the Gospel has never changed. The apostle preached the same thing over and over again. “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel”.…The message backed by the Holy Spirit produced results among those who heard it. There is only one way to build the Church today. We must preach the risen Christ, the Prince and Savior of the whole world. There is no other answer out there.
4. “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they (the apostles) never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah)” vs. 42. The early Church was a witnessing and gospel preaching Church. Daily, they were being witnesses to the “new life” in the Spirit. No wonder nothing is happening among us because the Church of today is preaching a different message of comfort and prosperity. Most of us are not even telling anyone about the Jesus that lives in us and that has changed our lives and put a new spirit in us that yawns for God. Are you daily being a witness? I must confess that I am not and asking that God will help me.
5. The Holy Spirit has been given, so we may obey and walk in this new life. “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given those who obey him”. The Holy Spirit is given to those who respond to God with “the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5). We can’t say we are filled with the Holy Spirit if we are not obeying the voice of the Spirit. Obedience to the Word of God is the mark of a believer in Jesus Christ. How much of His voice are you and I obeying? May God help us.
6. Notice professor Gamaliel (Saul later apostle Paul studied under him before his conversion Acts 22:3). God can use anyone for His purpose. Even in the midst of opposition, God inspired one of them to speak for him. Never dismiss the opposition because there may be truth to what they are saying. In this case, Gamaliel was giving a good counsel to his people. “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God”. What a profound insight. Is what you are doing (the very thing you are so passionate about right now) of “human origin” or inspired by God? Time will tell.
7. The spread of the Gospel has proved Gamaliel right. No one could stop the apostles and we are witnesses of it. The gospel has gone all over the world.
8. After the authorities “flogged” the apostles, they left “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (of Jesus). What a testimony! You and I will be complaining and calling the police. Lord, help us, Amen
The Church is gaining momentum and would need God inspired catalyst for more growth. The catalyst would come in the form of persecution and imprisonment of the apostles. God would have to send His angel to release the apostles from prison for the sole purpose of preaching the gospel. “19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." Acts 5:19-20.
God was determined to get the gospel of life to all mankind. Nothing could stand on the way as Jesus said that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. Even within the opposition and persecution, God would even inspire some to work for His purpose. Let’s see case of Gamaliel.
Acts 5: 27-42 (Please read entire chapter 5)
27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, 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. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.[b]
Here are my observations in addition to the ones that you have:
1. The authorities are not sure what to do with the apostles since the angel intervened and released the apostles from prison. God can and will confuse the opposition at any time for His purpose. Don’t be afraid of opposition. God is with us.
2. Notice the Message of the gospel to be preached as instructed by the angel of God. The angel said, “Tell the people the full message of this new life”. What “new life”? It is the new life given by the Holy Spirit out-pouring on the day of Pentecost. Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). The apostles preached the new life they had received from the Holy Spirit. We must do the same and not preach a different gospel.
3. The Message of the Gospel has never changed. The apostle preached the same thing over and over again. “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel”.…The message backed by the Holy Spirit produced results among those who heard it. There is only one way to build the Church today. We must preach the risen Christ, the Prince and Savior of the whole world. There is no other answer out there.
4. “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they (the apostles) never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah)” vs. 42. The early Church was a witnessing and gospel preaching Church. Daily, they were being witnesses to the “new life” in the Spirit. No wonder nothing is happening among us because the Church of today is preaching a different message of comfort and prosperity. Most of us are not even telling anyone about the Jesus that lives in us and that has changed our lives and put a new spirit in us that yawns for God. Are you daily being a witness? I must confess that I am not and asking that God will help me.
5. The Holy Spirit has been given, so we may obey and walk in this new life. “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given those who obey him”. The Holy Spirit is given to those who respond to God with “the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5). We can’t say we are filled with the Holy Spirit if we are not obeying the voice of the Spirit. Obedience to the Word of God is the mark of a believer in Jesus Christ. How much of His voice are you and I obeying? May God help us.
6. Notice professor Gamaliel (Saul later apostle Paul studied under him before his conversion Acts 22:3). God can use anyone for His purpose. Even in the midst of opposition, God inspired one of them to speak for him. Never dismiss the opposition because there may be truth to what they are saying. In this case, Gamaliel was giving a good counsel to his people. “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God”. What a profound insight. Is what you are doing (the very thing you are so passionate about right now) of “human origin” or inspired by God? Time will tell.
7. The spread of the Gospel has proved Gamaliel right. No one could stop the apostles and we are witnesses of it. The gospel has gone all over the world.
8. After the authorities “flogged” the apostles, they left “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (of Jesus). What a testimony! You and I will be complaining and calling the police. Lord, help us, Amen
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