ACTS 5:41-42 - Continuing Daily

SERIES: #10
TOPIC: Persecution; honor, name (above all), perseverance, praise, suffering

TITLE: CONTINUING DAILY – The honor in dishonor for His Name’s sake!
TEXT: Acts 5:41-42 [21-42]

So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

CONCISE OUTLINE
INQUIRY: How do we see Acts’ three themes in this persecution of the Apostles?

I. NOTICE THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST JESUS!
II. NOTICE THE PROMINENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
III. NOTICE THE POWER OF THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Most people don’t think of persecution as they should. Most, if asked, would associate it with torture, often leading to death. But the truth is broader. Definition –

Per-se-cute (pûr¹sî-ky¡t´) verb, transitive; 1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, sexual orientation, or beliefs. 2. To annoy persistently; bother.

Biblical persecution is any external hindering, harassing, or oppressing treatment on account of the Name of Christ … whether direct or indirect. In our text we see how the Authentic Church ought to respond to persecution.

This is the second of two persecutions by the religious leaders of the day:

1. 1st ended with prayer for power and boldness, while
2. 2nd ended with praises for power and boldness.

Perhaps if we encountered these men in our lives today they would be unimpressive; we might not see them as great men but their behavior tells us God did!

All too often powerful people are focused on themselves; the apostles learned from their teacher to focus on others [Philippians 2:3-4]; even to the point of rejoicing for suffering abuse for the Name and their neighbors, because they knew God had the final word.

Satan never rests but to find evil people in his kingdom willing and able to torment the righteous in God’s kingdom … this is the price and the fruit of sin.

INQUIRY: How do we see Acts’ three themes in this persecution of the Apostles?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST!

"about daybreak" [21] ... indicates “teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” was an important activity for them, and they got busy at it!

"in this name" [28a] ... whose name?

"this man's blood" [28b] ... what man?

"raised up Jesus" ... "hanging Him on a cross" ... "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" [30-31] ... it truly is all about Jesus ... that name, that man!

"they ... ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus" [40] ... do you see, it is preeminent, this name above every name, this name by which all men must be saved it they are to see the Father.

"rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name" [41] ... they are honored to suffer dishonor for it.

"And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." [42]... I dare say, this is the task of the authentic church.

II. THE PROMINENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

We all agree the ability to teach the Good News is Holy Spirit given [21, 25, 28] ... here we have the Holy Spirit in evidence through their convicting teaching.

Christ had told them, when they suffered persecution from authorities, the Holy Spirit would give them utterance [Luke 21:14-15]. "We must obey God rather than men" [29] ... here is evidence of the Holy Spirit doing just that.

"we are witnesses ... and so is the Holy Spirit" [32] ... see 1 John 5:6-8 to see the Holy Spirit elsewhere mentioned as a "witness"

"they were cut to the quick" [33] ... see John 6:7-11 for the resume of the Holy Spirit –

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, be-cause the ruler of this world has been judged."

"Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law" [34] ... see here the Holy Spirit move on an enemy of the Cross

"they kept right on" [42] ... under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit

III. THE POWER OF THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH!

"they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach" [21] ... indicates a fear of God and not man; power of faith does this

"they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this" [24] ... power of faith brings perplexity to the enemies of God.

"But someone came and reported to them, 'The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!'" [25] ... power of this kind of faith confounds the enemies of God.

"[they] intended to kill them" [30-32] ... here again is powerful unction to preach boldly the truth in the very face of death

"if it is of God, you will not be able" [39] ... this is power of the authentic kind!

"rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer ... every day ... they kept right on teaching and preaching" [41-42] ... end of the story.

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Their suffering stimulated them to greater and more courageous and evangelistic endeavors.

The disciples took advantage of every opportunity to preach about Jesus – dead, buried, raised up, exalted and the need for repentance and forgiveness.

It must be noted what happened here: God raised Jesus from the dead, exalted Him to the right hand of power on high, giving Him power to save, and gave the Holy Spirit for those whom He saved … becoming the Chief witness against accusing man.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:10-12

“And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.’”

Luke 6:20-23

Notice how they responded to persecution:

1) Suffered with dignity

• honored
• joyful
• focused

2) Returned with diligence to teach and preach:

• Where? Publicly and privately!
• When? Daily!
• What? Lord Jesus Christ; and Him crucified and resurrected!

They were accused of doing just what they were commanded by Jesus to do … “fill Jerusalem with their teaching.”

Persecution only forced them out to Judea and Samaria, and then they filled the whole world with this teaching.

Perhaps that is what the contemporary Church needs today … persecution!

Acts, Christianity, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Persecution,
Preaching, Sermons

1 PETER - Seed Archive

1 Peter 2:20-25

"when you do good and suffer, patiently enduring it, this finds favor before God"

TOPIC: Christ Jesus

TITLE: A Divine Response for Straying Sheep
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why have we been called to suffer when doing good?

I. Because Christ Experienced Suffering On Our Behalf! [21]
II. Because Christ Endured While Blameless! [22]
III. Because Christ Entrusted Himself To God Completely! [23]
IV. Because Christ Earned Our Salvation! [24]

"... for now we've returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls"

1 Peter 2:22-25

TOPIC: Jesus [Example (His); Discipleship]

TITLE: THE GUARDIAN OF MY SOUL!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How did Jesus set an example?

I. In His Nature - Sinless!

"WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH" [22]

II. In His Temperament - Blameless!

"while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" [23]

III. In His Death - Vicarious!

"... He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." [24]

IV. In His Guardianship - Shepherd!

"For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." [25]

1 Peter, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons

JOB 14:14 - Between Heaven & Earth!

TOPIC: Coping; despair, endurance, light, patience, perseverance, purity, suffering, submission, trials
TITLE: BETWEEN HEAVEN & EARTH – Four Reasons for Our Sojourn!

TEXT:

If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait,
Until my change comes.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is the purpose for our protracted stay?

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: Job may be the oldest book in the Bible. Chronologically, Job probably lived closer to the flood and creation than Moses (who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament); which means his understanding of God was at least as good as Moses, if not better!

The book has sweeping application ... we all reap heartache and toil in this life, thus a universal need exists among men. It's a reminder:

1. of man's inability to cope with suffering alone,
2. of man's inadequacy to earn approval through effort,
3. of man's impaired understanding of the things of God, as-well-as a reminder that ...
4. man's pride widens the gulf between himself and his God.

Man's word increases despair in the midst of need, God's word is a timely answer for every need; man’s word increases darkness, God's word is light.

Job's friends embody the widely accepted notion that struggle indicates something is wrong with the person or their life!

God answers the need of Job's heart, spreading light in the midst of his suffering.

Redeemed man is caught ...

• somewhere between heaven and earth,
• somewhere between the temporal and the eternal,
• somewhere between the natural and the supernatural

... still in this world but not of it ... and so the redeemed of God live by and on His grace, longing for certainty concerning an after-life. [cf. Philippians 1:21]

Man fears death because of uncertain future. When we cut down a tree, it may sprout again. When we're cut down, will we sprout again? If so, why doesn't God take us home at the time of our rebirth?

Job makes two points in v. 14: first, the promise of resurrection (he says: 'until my change comes,' in answer to his own question 'will he live again'); second, the purpose for our hiatus here ('all the days of my struggle / will wait').

Let's address the latter ...

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is the purpose for our protracted stay?

I. OUR STAY MAKES HEAVEN MORE HEAVENLY!

A. Nothing makes a time of rest as sweet as healthy toil
B. Nothing makes safety as desirable as exposure to threat
C. The polluted streams here only sweeten the promised nectar of glory
D. Our pock-marked paths pale in the radiance of heaven's golden highways and
E. Our battered armor only renders more wonderful the victory to come, when we are welcomed into the congregation of overcomers.

[GOLD] Purity comes with time and toil. The higher the quality of gold, the more
trying has been its journey. In the jewelry industry, worth is based on purity.

II. OUR STAY ALLOWS US TO EXPERIENCE FULL FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST!

Fellowship with Christ is so desirable the worst sorrow is a small price for procuring it. Our fellowship with Jesus would not be full or complete fellowship if we were not to tarry awhile.

He was baptized with a baptism of suffering among men (He bore our stripes); thus, we likewise must be baptized with tribulation, if we would share a sense of His kingdom. [cf. Philippians 1:29]

III. OUR STAY IS FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS!

Why would we want to enter heaven before our work is finished? It may be we're yet commissioned to bear the gospel-light to one who yet cowers in the midnight of their own wilderness.

IV. OUR STAY IS ALSO FOR GOD'S GLORY!

Paul said we are God's workmanship, in which, by our trials in service, He will be glorified ... that we hold out against the testing of our faith with joy is His glory.

[SPURGEON] "A tried saint, like a well-cut diamond, glitters much in the King's
crown." Nothing honors a man as much as the testing of his work. [cf. James
1]

I believe it is the Westminster Catechism which says, "The chief end of man is to glorify God."

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Each man must surrender his concerns to the glory of Jesus, and proclaim, "if lying in the dust of this age elevates my Lord by so much as a micron, let me remain choking and prostrate until the end." Or, "if living on earth forever would procure more glory for Him, then let it be my heaven to be excluded from heaven." [Charles Haddon Spurgeon, paraphrased]

Expository, Homiletics, Job 14:14,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Trials