You cannot fight against God
Bible Text: Acts 5:12-42 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Acts | 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