Kingdoms Collide Part 10: Unstoppable Kingdom

INTRO

“The Elephant Rope”

Elephants can weight up to 16,000 lbs

Can tow up to 18,000 lbs (equivalent to 81.8 horsepower)

Yet, if done early, can be restricted by a rope or chain around the foot and stake in the ground.

As Christ-followers, we are held back, not by a lack of power in the Gospel, but by our own mindsets. We must break free from the weakness of this world and trust in the unstoppable Kingdom we are a part of.

Acts 5:27–42 ESV

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

1) The World Will Try to Stop the Gospel (vs. 17-18, 27-28)

The High Priestly family were Sadduccees.

They didn’t believe in a physical resurrection from the dead. It was an impossibility to them.

A message that proclaims a risen Jesus is in direct contradiction to their worldview.

It was a natural response for the Sadduccees to resist and restrict the Gospel message of Jesus.

They were the ones the people looked to for instruction.

They held sway and influence over people.

Their ideologies were those that brought held power up this point.

The message of the Gospel stands in direct opposition to the worldview of our culture today.

The Gospel illuminates the sinfulness of humanity and a need for a Savior.

The worldview of today is that people are by nature good and just trying to live according to their own personal truths.

The Gospel puts on full display that we are personally responsible for our own actions.

The worldview of today is that no one is responsible because we are all victims of society and therefore people must be coddled, not held accountable.

The Gospel shines a light on our need for a divine and loving Savior.

The worldview of today is that a rejection of narrow mindedness, tolerance by all, and acceptance and validation by everyone is our salvation.

The Gospel highlights that Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and freedom.

The worldview of today is that defining your own truth, living it out, and forcing everyone else to approve and applaud you is the only way to freedom.

It is a natural response for the world today to resist and restrict the Gospel message of Jesus.

The problem for most Christian’s today is that we fail to focus on the power of the Gospel and give the weakness of the world an audience.

The only way to break the rope of the culture is to be all in with Jesus and let Him free us.

2) God Frees Us From the Restrictions of the World (19-21a, 29-32)

The Lord freed the apostles on purpose, for purpose.

The conviction and drive from the apostles was their obedience to God.

We are freed by Jesus from the weak and sinful mindsets of this world when we are driven by obedience to Him.

3) God’s Kingdom is Unstoppable (21b-26, 33-42)

The apostles continued the mission of calling people to the Gospel and the officers had to escort them, not bring them by force.

It took Gamaliel, a respected and honorable teacher of the law, to reason that resistance to God is futile.

The weak ideologies of this world and the weak originator and promoter (Satan) of those ideologies have no power over God.

There is only one truth and one reality and that belongs to God alone. The truth and reality is that God’s purposes will not be stopped.

Resistance of the Gospel only brings strength to the Gospel.

Beating and discouragement brought rejoicing and discouragement.

The only way our enemy can slow the Gospel down and slow down the unstoppable Kingdom of God is to deceive you into thinking you are bound and tied down to the world.

CLOSING

THE WEAKNESS OF THE CHURCH TODAY IS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE A WEAK GOSPEL OR THAT WE BELONG TO A WEAK KINGDOM.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HOLD ON TO WEAK MINDSETS DUE TO THE WORLD AROUND US.

IT’S TIME FOR YOU AND I TO REALIZE THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM AND THE GOSPEL AND TO BREAK THE WEAK ROPE OF THE WEAK MINDSETS OF THE WORLD.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE. THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM IS MOST POWERFUL.

WHAT MINDSETS DO YOU NEED TO BREAK IN ORDER TO REALIZE AND LIVE IN ITS POWER?