Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Chapter 4 - a period of great generosity
• Chapter 5:1-11 - a fearful expression of the will of God
• Explanation
• You may have thought that do this fear the numbers would diminish
• The opposite happened - v14
• A time of great searching and holiness
• There was a fear to join them - v13, but as the gospel was preached many were converted
• Does God still act in this way today?
• Think of the believers in Corinth
• At times of difficult we should examine ourselves and ask if there is a temporal judgment of God
• Especially if there is deliberate sin in our live
• v12-42 - encouraging passage
• v39
• No man or woman can stand against the purposes of God
• Overview:
• v12-18: Great power in God
• v19-32: The Gospel cannot be bound
• v33-42: God can overrule

Great power in God (v12-18)

• They are in Solomon's Porch and many signs and wonders were being done
• Seated about 10'000 people
• They were all in one accord (v12) - the people of God were united
• Many miracles are done
• By the apostles
• To authenticate God's servants and God's message
• An answer to an earlier prayer - 4:29-30
• It is ludicrous to think the religious elite would stand against such men and against God
• They are full of envy
• They are full of indignation (v16)
• The multitudes came ... and all were healed
• Yet the sadducees are only concerned for themselves
• Application:
• Don't fall into similar sins:
• A lust for power
• An attempt to discredit an opponent
• These are devilish - cf James
• Are we content to be thankful just to be a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord
• We need to consider out motives
• The apostles do not stand upon their rights but submit to persecution

The Gospel cannot be bound (v19-32)

• God's people will always witness
• A remarkable occurrence
• An angel brings them out of prison
• They are commanded to stand in the temple ... and speak "all the words of this life"
• Preach a full message
• The Officers and guards come and 'arrest them again' - trying to move against God even in these remarkable events
• Three supernatural deliverances - Acts 5, 12 & 16
• Do these things happen today?
• Example of John Patten
• Do you believe that God can protect His people?
• Do you believe that when God chooses to, He delivers them?
• The religious leaders could not stand it
• The apostles answered they should obey God rather than men
• They do not stop preaching God - a great many of the priests (those opposed to God) were saved - 6:7
• There is a great work of God that the apostles are merely witness to
• It is foolish to fight against God if He is working in powerful ways
• Application:
• Why did they have such power?
• United prayer
• Filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4)
• Because God was very precious to them
• God had purified the Church
• Are we afraid to be out and out for God?
• Are we more afraid of men than God?
• Consider the words of David
• Prov 29:25, 14:26

God can overrule (v33-42)

• The sadducees plotted to kill the apostles
• God raises up a pharisee to influence the whole council
• A man named Gamaliel
• He gives examples of two that were slain
• Faulty logic - God didn't put the others down because the religious leaders were right
• Correct logic - the work cannot be put down if it is of God
• The apostles rejoiced at their persecution
• They continued to meet daily in the temple and meeting in people's home
• They did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ
• Example of Richard Wormbrand and a French Minister