Leverage strength
Acts 5:17-29; 4/30/2023; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
All the power in the world comes from God, originates from God, and is for God. Therefore, God observes in heaven and uses all the forces acting on us to work together, including leveraging forces to benefit those who love God. Let’s look at the first point:
Pressure from the regime and religious authority
Since ancient times, there have been various tensions between political power and religious power, and both of them will feel the pressure. First, filled with jealousy. What is filled with jealousy? It’s nothing more than an emotional reaction to stress, isn’t it? Why is there such a big reaction? It is nothing more than feeling threatened, whether the power is stable, whether the people’s hearts are stable, and so on. Those in power may be afraid of emergencies such as black swans and gray rhinos, so they must constantly emphasize the need to maintain stability. After finally crucifying Jesus to the cross, they had a little bit of a stable life. Now they are facing the disciples of Jesus again, and they repeat the old story, wanting to spread the truth that Jesus is Christ. What’s even more unacceptable is that Peter and John also said that our crucified Jesus actually rose from the dead! How can this be?, what about our face? If Jesus is resurrected, I, the High Priest, King Herod, and even the Roman Emperor will be the ones on trial. This is unacceptable to those in power both in cognition and in reality, right?
Second, abuse of power. When the uneasiness in the hearts of those with power reaches its peak, abuse of power becomes a high probability event. The Gospel of John records that when Pilate interrogated Jesus, he could not find any evidence of guilt, but in view of the pressure from the Jews, he had to sentence Jesus to death. The high priest did not have the power of life and death, but he had the power to put him in prison. When people have power in their hands, it is easy to have the psychological illusion that they have the right to use it or expire it. So, the Bible says, “The high priests “they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. (Acts 5:18)” Coupled with the sinful nature of human beings, when prisoners enter the prison, they will torture and extract confessions at will, which is extremely cruel. If you encounter someone like Stephen who speaks out words that make those in power angry, the punishment of being stoned to death will inevitably come to the children of God.
Finally, compete with each other. Between those in power and Christians, there are no personal grievances, moral and ethical entanglements, or power struggles. From a Christian perspective, the mission to be accomplished is that God loves the world. That is, whether it is in season or out of season, we must always save some people. Christians have no interest in fame, status, wealth, power, etc. in this world. It stands to reason that there is no conflict or contradiction between the two. However, Jesus asked Christians to be light and salt, that is, to live the truth. All three synoptic Gospels record John the Baptist accusing King Herod of having an affair with Herodias, the legal wife of his brother Philip. Pastor Lin Xianjiao also criticized the Three-Self Church established by Wu Yaozong as not a true church. Brother Ji Tai also pointed out Ding Guangxun’s sin of persecuting house churches. Including Ding Guangxun’s followers, they claim to be Ding Guangxun’s dogs, and they also bite people everywhere. Let’s look at the second point:
The angel put force
The bible says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. First, the power of obedience. Chapter 5 verse 18 says, “They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.” Why don’t they run? Is it that easy to be caught? If they ran away, they would really leave behind what the high priest said. If you are all right, why run? It must be something hiding! Peter thought to himself, he did nothing wrong, why did he run away? Especially in the early church, people’s hearts were unstable, and everyone watched the testimony of the disciples. The best solution is to testify to the Lord’s power in obedience. The disciples only did the right thing before God and man, that is, “the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 4:2)” There are no conditions, no guarantees, and there is the risk of suffering and even death in prison. Thank the Lord, the disciples obeyed!
Second, the acts of an angel. He sent an angel “But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. (Acts 5:19)” Please don’t take God’s sending of angels as something God has to do for us, and instead try to control God. God may or may not send angels. In fact, in most cases, God does not send angels. Because martyrdom for the Lord is the highest form of imitating the Lord, and someone needs to do it to testify to the glory of the Lord. When Stephen was about to be stoned to death, “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55)” Have you seen that the Lord Jesus greeted the martyred Stephen standing up? When the angel brought Peter and the other apostles out, he didn’t tell them to run away. But said, “Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people all about this new life.” (Acts 5:20)”
Finally, the ultimate in obedience. What is the ultimate of obedience? We have seen that the disciples will obey even after they have submitted, which means submitting to the end. The angel told Peter and the other apostles to continue preaching the gospel. What would happen if it were you? Going to preach the Gospel right after getting out of prison, isn’t that a clear sign of confrontation with those in power? What if we get arrested again? Will the angels still come to rescue us? Obviously, Peter and the other apostles didn’t think too much, so what if they went to prison again? Esther listened to Mordecai’s exhortation, she knew that, “you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)” So Esther said, please pray for me, if something really happens to me, “And if I perish, I perish.” Just like the Lord Jesus: “becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8)” Let’s look at the third point:
Empowered by faith
After we have believed in the Lord, we may not have experienced the situation of being empowered by faith. First, do what you hear. The angel who rescued Peter and the apostles said, go and tell the people all the words of life! The apostles heard it and went to do it! Maybe they will stop for a while, rest, and recover their strength, and they should pray together. The Bible says that the apostles set out just before dawn. They come to the most dangerous place, but also the safest place. The standard for measuring peace is no longer by what happens, but by whether it comes from God. What comes from God may not be without danger, and everything may not go well. Maybe the high priest turned around and saw that the people had run away, so he sent someone to throw them into prison again. The point of the Law of Faith is that whatever, no matter what, just go for it! The Great Commission says, ”therefore go.” So let’s go!
Second, be brave to face it. Of course, going is not an easy thing. Being caught by the high priest and taken back to prison is a high probability thing, so you can’t ignore it! Maybe also meet family members, explain funerals or something. Bring some books to read in prison, and you can also prepare some changes of clothes and personal items. The premise of being prepared is to be strong and courageous and bravely face the coming storm. Of course, the courage to face it is not limited to going to jail. In today’s world, the coming economic crisis, can we prepare for the future with a simple life? The stock market is falling, the property market is collapsing, and the supermarket is empty. Do you have the courage to face it? The Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of the people, and also issued a warning in the heart of the high priest, becoming the protection of the disciples.
Finally, be blunt. It was in the nature of the high priest to persecute the disciples, and their uneasiness still led them to speak threatening words: “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.” (Acts 5:28)” The next line becomes a canon that balances Romans 13’s teaching of submission to the governing authorities: “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:29)” Not only have the courage, but also speak out! This has also become a model for our church life and a reference for us to follow. If you have anything to say, say it face to face, without fear!
Conclusion
Well, thank the Lord! When God’s people walk on the heavenly path, either empowered or encounter pressure, God is always leveraging strength for us! The salvation of one and the perdition of another are all from God. Don’t be afraid, just believe! We can trust that God can accomplish everything according to the power that is working in our hearts,beyond what we ask or imagine and with the help of it!
Let us pray……
Acts 5:17-29
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, 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.
20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.
22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”
26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to 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.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
