Faithful, No Matter What!

Introduction

When being physically and verbally assaulted for your faith, how do you respond? Do you cower down? Do you fight? or Do you, in calm assurance, accept what is happening and count it all joy to endure what is happening for the sake of the Lord? Afterwards, do you continue to remain faithful? or Do you cower down and quit? We find the answer of what should be done in the text before us.

Focus Passage (Acts 5:33-42)

Opening Passage

Acts 5:33–39 KJV 1900

33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Outline

God’s Plan Will Prevail

1. Enraged with anger, because of the truth (v.33)

If you remember, right before our present passage, Peter and the other apostles were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel message. While they were imprisoned, and angel of the Lord intervened and freed them from their prison cell. When the guards found them, they were once again preaching the Gospel. When found, they willfully went before the Sanhedrin and were asked, did we not tell you not to preach in the name of Jesus? Their response was simple.

Acts 5:29–32 KJV 1900

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Peter stood with courage, knowing he was proclaiming the truth. The Sanhedrin, facing the truth being proclaimed, were enraged, When they heard that, they were cut to the heart. “Cut to the heart,” is a word cluster that literally means, ‘sawed in half.’ They were exasperated by the truth. They were enraged. They were so enraged that they wanted the death penalty there and then, and took counsel to slay them. This is the response of most to the Gospel message. Rather than embrace that which can and will saved/redeem them, they become angry and vehement in rejection. The the methodology of the rejection of the Christian faith is the same today as it was then. When it is not agreed with, they threaten, yell, and want to destroy it. We live in a world that preaches tolerance and yet they are intolerant toward the truth of the Gospel.

2. A voice of reason interjects (vv.34-38)

A Sanhedrin, specifically the majority Sadducees, holler for the death penalty, God uses one of their own to interject with a voice of reason. Gamaliel 1, is a man of influence and part of the minority group of the pharisees. He has belief in the Christian faith, nor does he care one way or the other of about the Christian movement. He was zealous for the Law and God, and was Paul’s teacher (Acts 22:3).

Acts (2) Appearance before Sanhedrin (5:27–40)

Perhaps nowhere is the esteem in which he was held better expressed than in the following statement of the Mishna: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.”

He projects his influence when he ask for the apostles to be removed for a short time, to discuss the need to use caution in dealing with the apostles. Once again, this was not due to his concern or belief in their plan but was a true political move. He knew the people were joining this move and with great enthusiasm and he did not want to fight the people.

In Gamaliel’s message of reason, we also find ignorance of the truth.

Gamaliel compared Jesus and Gospel to the message of rebels (Theudas ‘not much is known about him’ and Judas of Galilee ‘refused to pay taxes to Cesar and his movement would start the revolt in A.D. 90’)

Gamaliel stated that if a movement was from man it would fail. While this is true in the ultimate end, in the here and now, often we find that evil and sin reign while God’s people suffer. As long as the Lord terries, man will be successful but in the temporal here and now.

3. God’s plan will prevail (vv.39)

Gamaliel tells the Sanhedrin to let the apostles to go, Refrain from these men, and let them alone. He then goes further and states that if this movement is from God, it will fail eventually, if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought. And then Gamaliel hits the nail on the head. He tells the Sanhedrin the fact of the matter, But if it be of God, you cannot over throw it. He goes even further and declares if this movement is from God, you are not fighting these men, but rather you are fighting God Himself, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

One must see the irony in his statement, if it be of God. Was there a question that what was taking place was from God. They had seen the miracles, the signs, the wonders, the death, the burial, and even the empty tomb because of the resurrection. These were all verifiable facts that were not in dispute. They were there when Jesus healed the blind, the lame, and the deaf. They were there when Jesus raised Lazarus and then hunted him and down to kill him again. Then you find the miracles and signs of Peter and the apostles, which were the reason that they were there in the first place. You add to this the numerous people coming to faith in Christ, it was apparent this was from God.

Gamaliel was denying the truth, being a coward, and avoiding the facts before him. With that said, as Christians, we do not have the option of being cowards. We do not have the option to remain neutral. Within the economy of God, there is no place on the fence. You are either a follower of God and his child through the a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or you stand against God on the other side of the fence, because that fence belongs to Satan himself. Jesus, himself, declared to his disciples that there is no middle ground when it comes to being for him or against him.

Matthew 12:30 KJV 1900

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Many of us need to stop teetering back and forth and make a decision; either accept and be obedient to the Lord or deny the faith and accept the devil’s hell you are choosing.

1 Kings 18:21 KJV 1900

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

I beg you, choose Christ!

After 2000 years and countless prophecies being fulfilled, even today, it is evident, God’s plan will prevail.

Counting Persecution an Honor (v.40-41)

Acts 5:40–41 KJV 1900

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

We find that the words spoken by Gamaliel are accepted, And to him they agreed. However, they resorted back to the same tactics as before but with further aggression.

1. The devil’s intimidation tactics never change

The devil will physically intimidate you, and beaten them. The apostles find themselves not being rescued by an angel this time. They do not find themselves with a slap on the wrist. They find themselves facing a beating. They face the 39 lashes as a warning sign to quit. It was commonly referred to as 40 lashes minus one.

2 Corinthians 11:24 KJV 1900

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

The devil will not only physically intimidate you, he will try to verbally intimidate you, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. This was nothing new to the apostles. They had already heard this threat several times before. They had already given their response to this threat.

Acts 4:19–20 KJV 1900

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Acts 5:29 KJV 1900

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

2. The disciples counted it as an honor to suffer for the Lord

Jesus had foretold that his followers would face persecution and they followed his teachings as to handle this, rejoie.

Matthew 5:10–12 KJV 1900

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Not only did they rejoice for their suffering, we find that later Paul would desire to know the fellowship of the suffering of Christ.

Philippians 3:10 KJV 1900

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The Apostles Continued to be Faithful to the Lord (v.42)

Acts 5:42 KJV 1900

42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

We find that the disciples continued to be faithful in their service to the Lord and present to us a sure plan for ministry and growth.

1. The disciples continued to evangelize and make disciples - ‘…to teach and preach Jesus Christ...’

2. The disciples continued to evangelize and make disciples publicly - ‘...And daily in the temple...’

3. The disciples continued to evangelize and make disciples privately - ‘…and in every house...’

Conclusion

How were the apostles willing to face threats, imprisonment, and persecution? How were they able to have confidence despite all chaos around them? How were they able to weather the storms and come out victorious? The answer…The ability to face all that they faced with confidence and joy was Jesus Christ. They knew they were empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and knew there was salvation in no other name.

Acts 4:12 KJV 1900

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Do you have that same confidence, hope, and joy that they had? If not, come forward this evening and accept the Christ they preached then and I preach today, the savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ.