Don't Impede God's Work
Pastor Kevin Harris
The Church: Then & Now - Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Welcome
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to church. We’re glad that you’re here with us today.
We’re continuing our series on the book of Acts this morning. I’ll catch you up, for those who have been travelling...
After the believers in the young and growing early church received the power of the Holy Spirit, we see multiple accounts of the apostles being brought before the ruling council of the temple in Jerusalem. At this point the apostles have been jailed and released on multiple occasions and given strict warnings about teaching in the name of Jesus Christ. However, every time they go right back out to continue telling others about Jesus.
The apostles have not been beaten or treated harshly for fear of the public outcry, but here, at the end of chapter 5, we find them—again—standing before the Sanhedrin Council of Pharisee and Sadducee priests in the temple. In our text for today, an influential Pharisee teacher and priest steps up to give advice to the Council...
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
[pray]
Vamos a centrar nuestro estudio en las palabras de Gamaliel y en la respuesta de los apóstoles, porque creo que ahí hay una lección que debemos aprender.
Who was Gamaliel?
Who was Gamaliel?
Gamaliel was a Pharisee and a teacher of the Law.
He was known to be rabbi (or teacher) to the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3). Gamaliel was a member of the Sanhedrin Council (that religious body that ruled in Jerusalem).
We don’t get any indication in scripture that Gamaliel supported Jesus. Looking at our text, he put Jesus in the same class of rebellion as Theudas and Judas the Galilean. These were men who gained temporary notoriety for leading localized rebellions against the established government. Gamaliel considers this new group of believers to be an insignificant uprising that will fade with time.
Gamaliel did not support Jesus Christ as the long awaited Messiah and wholly dismissed the opportunity for his own salvation and the salvation of Israel.
We do know that there were Pharisees and influential people that did believe in Jesus.
The Pharisee Nicodemus (John 3:1-21, 7:50-52, 19:39-42) was a secret believer in Christ, though he is not mentioned in the book of Acts.
Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50) is thought to be a member of the Sanhedrin Council and provided the tomb for Jesus’ burial.
Neither of these men, nor any other member of the Sanhedrin Council is recorded in the account as having stood up to protect the apostles.
Review
The last time we look at this, Peter and the apostles had answered the high priest’s challenge by saying...
29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.
He went on to blame them again for Jesus’ murder (5:29-32). This did not sit well with the council of priests...
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
This word enraged is a strong word in the original language. It is διαπρίω (diapriō), the literal translation of the verb is “to be cut apart by a saw” but the interpretation for us is that they were violently and emotionally affected by what they heard. “Enraged” is a good translation for this word. The council of priests were so angry that they were driven to murder, just as they had been with Jesus.
I. Human Work Fails where God’s Work Prevails
I. Human Work Fails where God’s Work Prevails
Gamaliel gave some middle of the road advice to the Sanhedrin Council of religious leaders in the temple...
38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
In essence, he was saying, “Don’t touch this one, it’s going to blow up in your face.”
He said, “if this plan is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them.” There seems to be some wisdom there, though some might argue with the logic. This is not necessarily saying that all human plans fail. We can see many human plans that have succeeded, even to the point that some have succeeded against the church. So the logic is not really on point here, even though most of us would agree that God’s plans will succeed and that we need to get on board with his plan.
God used Gamaliel’s words to stay the hands of the council of priests so that the work of the apostles could continue.
I personally don’t recommend the “Just ignore it and it will go away” plan. It clearly didn’t work for Gamaliel and it rarely works now.
From Gamaliel’s perspective he tried to take the middle road. But he clearly expected the small, yet bold group of apostles to fail as he believed Jesus had done. In reality, Gamaliel missed an opportunity for salvation. Jesus made it clear that there is no neutrality when it comes to his message...
30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Don’t be like Gamaliel. When it comes to Christ there are only two choices: Believe or Perish.
II. Don’t Work Against God
II. Don’t Work Against God
I think if there is any seed of truth here, we can say that it doesn’t benefit believers to engage in working against God’s plan.
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
We always want to be found supporting God’s work rather than blocking God’s efforts. Gamaliel wasn’t so concerned about supporting God’s work as he was looking for a way to wait and see how things were going to play out.
How is God working in the world today?
How are you supporting or blocking God’s efforts in the world?
We’ve all heard the saying that “God works in mysterious ways.” This is mostly a way of saying that people don’t understand what God is doing in the world.
It seems that some people cannot explain why certain things happened in the Bible and they can’t explain why life works out the way it does. From my perspective this is mostly that people don’t really read and understand scripture. However, some of these same people want to be seen as understanding, so they repeat what they have heard other people say, that God’s ways are mysterious.
God declared the end from the beginning...
10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. 11 I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.
God is clearly working on something that he has had planned out for a very long time. And he means to see it to completion.
We also know that God works all things out according to that plan...
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Even then—even when we know and understand scripture—we are still a little bit perplexed by God’s ways at times. There are times that God weaves some pretty remarkable and seemingly miraculous things into our lives and then there are other times that it seems our prayers are getting caught in the rafters before reaching his ears.
Yet we continue to walk in faith, even though it be blind faith at times...
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
For we know that we are in God’s capable hands.
I reminded our Wednesday night Bible study group this week that I have seen God be faithful time and time and time again over the course of many years.
If I look at our congregation over the last couple of years that I’ve been here, I can say that I’ve seen God working here at FBC Pharr. Yes, we’ve lost a good number of long time saints and friends of this church. We’ve had a few too many key families move away or move to a different church. I know this hits us hard. It hits me hard too.
But we’ve also seen people healed and people saved and people baptized. Now that’s not my work. That’s God’s work. I have seen undeniable evidence of the fact that God is still working here at FBC Pharr and THAT’s where we need to focus our attention rather than the negative talk that we so often hear.
So, I can claim without hesitation that God is faithful.
If God has proven himself to be faithful and capable of handling all the situations that we see come up in the church and he can handle all of my life’s situations as well as those of others I have witnessed, then I should be able to trust him through any storm of life. Even still, I find myself doubting him at times. But that’s on me. It’s in my flesh that I doubt God’s power. That’s not on God.
It’s not my role to understand everything God does and be able to give a detailed explanation for his work. It is my role to depend on God for every little thing in spite of how I feel or how I doubt.
3 You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.
In this way, I can find peace, no matter the circumstance.
It doesn’t matter what trouble I’m going through if I put my mind on the Lord, I will find peace and confidence in his faithfulness.
It doesn’t matter if the trouble is of my own making or the result of someone else sinning against me or just some sort of random event that happens in life, God can use these things for his purpose. These circumstances can make us better believers and followers of his ways.
III. The Apostles Rejoiced in their Suffering
III. The Apostles Rejoiced in their Suffering
The apostles in today’s text states clearly that they rejoiced in the way they were being shamefully by the council of leaders...
41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.
I can say that I have not reached this level of faith yet in my own life.
I’m only being honest. If I stood up here and told you that I never lacked faith, that I always remember to put my trust in God, and that I rejoice in my own suffering for His name’s sake, I’d be lying to you and I’m not going to do that.
I look to the book of James to help me live this out with faith in my own circumstances...
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
This this verse is pretty high on the list of lessons that I have been learning since I became a pastor. Certainly in the last 10 years, I seem to be a living case study in learning how to apply these verses to my life.
We talked about this on Wednesday evening as well. We all have troubles in our life. But we serve a God who is faithful and true. Here’s the thing about hard times—God promises us that he will use those difficult circumstances in our lives to shape us and mold us according to his character.
You remember what I’ve told you about his character don’t you?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
I’ve told you time and again that the fruit of the Spirit is the character of Christ, which is planted in us and takes root from the time we choose to believe in him and accept his free gift of salvation while we are repenting of our sins.
I’m still a work in progress. I am always reminding myself that God is present in my trials and is working though my trials so that I might learn to be more like Christ and to have his character.
The apostles were also learning these lessons.
You just have to be inspired by the response that the believers had after the apostles were released.
41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.
This is an interesting response that we don’t often understand today. But I’ll remind you of the words in the book of James that we just read a few minutes ago...
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,
These believers were truly experiencing “great joy” and rejoicing because of the treatment they were getting from the council.
IV. The Lord’s Work Continued
IV. The Lord’s Work Continued
In spite of all the harassment that these young believers were getting from the religious leaders, the text says, in verse 42, the believers continued the work that the Lord had given them...
42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
These passages that we are reading are a limited form of persecution. Certainly these early believers were experiencing some resistance, and they may have been fearful after they witnessed what happened to Jesus, but the religious council was still afraid to take too much action against them at this point.
We don’t experience much in the way of persecution here where we live. But there are believers in the world today and throughout history that experienced severe persecution and even death for what they believed.
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The Lord’s Table
The Lord’s Table
We now move to the Lord’s Table as we remember the sacrifice and the salvific work that Christ completed on the cross. As we do regularly, we come to the table reflecting upon his sacrifice and we remember the reason that He made that sacrifice.
This is an appropriate time to reflect on your readiness and upon your personal condition before God.
[pause]
I know that a few of you come from a tradition of closed communion, which means that only members of the church are allowed to participate in communion. But here at FBC Pharr, we practice open communion. That means that we leave the decision to participate or not participate up to you.
If you are a Christian, who believes in Jesus Christ, and have taken him as your Savior and your Lord, we invite you to participate with us, if you feel it is appropriate.
Scripture teaches us that if there is any sin in your life or conflict with your brother or sister that might keep you from participating in this meal, then do not participate. If this is the case with you or if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please allow the bread and the cup to pass and do not participate.
If this is you, please do not feel guilty or compelled to participate. There is no judgment or condemnation here. However, if this is you, please seek one of us out to get answers to questions that you might have or to correct some things in your life. We are here to serve you.
[pause]
Jesus came to this world to open the doors of Heaven to us by taking our say sin upon Himself and provide a way that we might enter into the presence of Almighty God.
[distribute the elements / pray / send out the deacons]
You’ll notice that you have two cups, one inside the other. The bread is in the bottom cup. You can gently separate the two cups.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
This is the body of our Lord, Jesus Christ, take it and eat in remembrance of His body broken for for us.
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
This is the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Take it and drink in remembrance of His blood poured out for us.
For by eating this bread and drinking this cup, we join together in proclaiming the Lord’s life, death, and resurrection until His return to us.
Doxology
Doxology
Praise God from Whom
All blessings flow
Praise Him all
Creatures here below
Praise Him above
Ye heavenly host
Praise Father Son
and Holy Ghost,
Amen
