God's Unstoppable Movement

Momentum takes time to start but once it goes, it’s easier to keep going. But once it goes, it’s hard to stop.

It’s like a freight train, it takes a long time to start and it takes a long time to stop.

Trains can take more then a mile to stop after the emergency brakes are applied.

As we look in the Book of Acts, we see momentum building in the early church but at the same time, the religious leaders are trying to stop this train.

I know it’s been a while since we have journeyed through the Book of Acts together so let me give you a quick review.

We just learned about the early church being a healthy church: They prayed together regularly, they spoke about Jesus boldly, they fellowshipped and had meals together on a regular basis, they had communion often, and their was a supernatural outpouring of generosity that flowed within the church.

Through that, we are introduced to people like Barnabas, who sold a field that he owned and gave that money to the apostles.

We also learn about a married couple, Ananias and Sapphira who tried to appear more generous then they actually were by lying to Peter but more then that they lied to the Holy Spirit. They conjured up that lie together resulting in immediate death.

Because of that we see a shift in the atmosphere in the church which resulted in Acts 5:11 “Great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.”

There was a deeper reverence and respect for the power of God that resulted in more signs and wonders and more people believing in Jesus.

Acts 5:12–16 ESV

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

PRAY

We see victory, we see continued growth, we see a church that is thriving, the power of God was working in ways that they had never seen before. The sick were being carried into the streets on cots and on mats and when the mere shadow of Peter came over these people they were immediately and miraculously healed.

The people in the community had a respect for the church. More believers, both men and women, were added to the Lord. The church was seeing continued growth.

When we keep JESUS at the center, MOMENTUM will build.

When people try to start things alone, success is hard. If we want to be successful in starting something it’s better and easier with a team.

The Early Church was started with a team who prayed together, enjoyed one another, had fellowship with one another, had communion with one another… but also worked together, they gave… they sacrificed together… their own time, money, and energy.

This team was unified and believed God for the impossible. This team knew Jesus… they knew the resurrection power of Jesus… They were witnesses of the resurrection, some physically but all a spiritual resurrection that brought transformation.

The early church always made sure that Jesus was at the center because only Jesus could bring real life transformation… real healing… real signs and wonders… real repentance… real deliverance… real freedom… real forgiveness…

It wasn’t Peter who was at the center, even if it was his shadow that was mentioned… Jesus was always at the center of HIS church.

Keeping Jesus at the center isn’t always easy because we naturally want to get in the way of Jesus.

We want to receive the credit, we want to get noticed for what we do and we want to be in control.

Those are the things we must constantly surrender. If it becomes more about the person leading and not about Jesus getting all the glory… the miracles, the supernatural, the refreshingly real freedom and transformation will never happen or eventually cease.

Jesus will not take a backseat in HIS church.

That’s why we must constantly be aware of our own fleshly desires, resist the enemy, and let God fight our battles by being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

We see the results of a healthy church that is willing to keep Jesus at the center.

So Keep Jesus at the center of everything, your job, your marriage or your singleness, your attitude, your family… as for me and my house, Jesus is at the center.

When Jesus remains at the center, God’s blessing will always follow but the enemy will also fight against us.

The enemy is real and the enemy will show his face in so many unexpected places, even within the religious circles as we see here.

Acts 5:17–18 ESV

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

When things seem to be going great… when Jesus is at the center, life is good, God is blessing, that’s when the haters always come out.

We see, once again, the jealous religious establishment didn’t like all the attention Jesus was getting so they put the apostles in jail.

When JESUS is Center, Expect Persecution

People don’t like submitting…

We naturally don’t like submitting… we don’t like to one another, to authority, to government, to our boss, to our spouse… what makes us think that this world will naturally want to submit to Jesus.

We love Jesus when we are in control, as long as certain controversial areas aren’t touched, as long as difficult issues that are deeply personal aren’t dealt with, let me live my life the way I want to without ruffling any feathers.

Jesus said in…

John 15:18–19 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

The world will always embraces what is contrary to what Jesus teaches.

The world teaches that we are victims of an oppressive society… Jesus says to cast ALL your cares upon HIM, because HE cares for you… Jesus says to seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness… to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

The world teaches that sexual immorality is a product of our genetic makeup not human choice… Jesus says, repent, go and sin no more… abide in ME, remain in my love… Love God by obeying MY commandments and love one another the way Christ loves us.

The world does not value life. The world says that a baby has no value if it is inconvenient to the mother… Jesus said that we are all created in the image of God, and as HIS image barriers we are to reflect the glory of God by loving one another. When God had finished creating mankind HE said, it is good… God never makes junk regardless of how inconvenient a situation might be. God’s had was upon you in your mother’s womb…

Psalm 139:13–14 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

If we are going to keep Jesus at the center we have to know God’s truth, speak God’s truth and reflect HIS righteousness.

Are we willing to stand for Jesus at any cost?

Life is never promised to be easy even when we keep Jesus is at the center. It may cost us everything, our whole world, all that we have but Jesus promises that our reward is much better and it’s eternal.

When the Apostles were facing public prison God confirmed to them that HE can never be stopped when Jesus is at the center.

Acts 5:19–26 ESV

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Prison could not contain the power of God… No religious or political power could stop HIS church.

God’s movement was unstoppable because.

1. The Holy Spirit empowered the church to fearlessly obey the Lord.

When the Angel of the Lord freed them from prison he told them to “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And that’s exactly what they were doing at the temple.

They were set free to fearlessly walk in total obedience. They could have been set free and then choose a safer option but they knew where their hope was was found.

Following Jesus was everything and total obedience and surrender to the Holy Spirit was a non-negotiable.

Acts 5:27–32 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.”

We must obey God rather then man… this was not a vain excuse or an empty threat. They were willing to face whatever but they were unwilling to stop doing what God commanded them to do.

They are witnesses of Jesus and they were not willing to not stop proclaiming Jesus no matter how they were threatened.

When they heard what the apostles were saying, vs 33 says that the religious authority were ready to kill them but then a man by the name of Gamaliel spoke up. He was a Pharisee who was also a well respected teacher of the law.

Acts 5:33–40 ESV

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.

2. The Holy Spirit has influence over the people who have authority here on earth.

God’s plan cannot be stopped politically, religiously, or governmentally.

God’s method is still HIS church.

God still uses us, HIS children, HIS followers, HIS disciples to proclaim that freedom that only Jesus can bring.

As HIS church we must keep Jesus at the center, be ready to face persecution, but know that as long as we have breath in our lungs we have real hope, real freedom, and we have a real opportunity to fulfill God’s Kingdom purpose.

Acts 5:41–42 ESV

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.

The church did not stop being the church.

As the church we are still called to be witnesses for Jesus.

All of us who are Christians have a testimony of God’s love, have encountered God’s grace and mercy and responded to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

Walk in that resurrection power, live in it, remain in it, and as we do that, we will continue to build momentum as HIS church.

Romans 8:11 NLT

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Nothing can stop God’s church as we let the church be the church be the church.

Take Away:

We are saved, we are redeemed, we are called, we are made alive in Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit to fulfill HIS purpose, to LOVE, LIVE, and DECLARE Jesus in our world together as HIS witnesses.