The Unstoppable Church
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 18 viewsJesus told the disciples that “the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church.” Yet, over and over we see the Church faced with severe persecution, hardship, and opposition… We see churches and pastors condemned and mistreated by many in this world, AND within the church… It can overwhelm us… So, what are we to do in those times? How are we supposed to stand firm in Faith when the world seems to be out to destroy us? How do we face such overwhelming adversity? Prayer.
Notes
Transcript
Somebody find Matthew 5:10-12 for us.
Matthew 5:10–12 (NIV)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Do you see what Jesus is saying?
— God blesses you when people persecute you for doing right.
— God blesses you when people mock you and lie about you.
— God blesses you when people gossip and say evil things about you.
“So be happy about it!!!”
HOW?!?!?
It is no over-exaggeration to say that the church is under attack all over the world… including right here in Bonham!
The Apostle’s faced it… Paul faced it… Throughout history, Christians have been attacked for their Faith! (“Creationism” page example)
But look at Paul’s words in Romans 8:31
Romans 8:31 (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
We have a God who is above it all. Who loves us. Who works for our good in ALL things. We have a foundation to turn to…
Look at Acts 12:1-19. Someone read that for us.
Luke starts this chapter with: Acts 12:1
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
“About this time…” About this time… The church was growing dramatically… especially among the Gentiles!
This caused a stir… It was noisy… People wondered at it… Some were excited and blown away by it! Others were angered by it!
So, the king began to persecute the Church.
This was Herod Agrippa I. His family background was extremely sketchy…
His grandfather was Herod the Great — the same Herod from the Christmas story — the one who had all the male children murdered…
His father -Herod Antipas - who was involved with both Jesus’s execution, and John the baptist’s…
His mother was the one who asked for John the Baptist’s head on a platter…
Great family, right?!?
Look at verse 2-3. Acts 12:2-3
Acts 12:2–3 (NIV)
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Herod followed in their foot steps and persecuted the church for political gain…
That NEVER happens in the life of the Church today, does it?!?
YES!!!
What does it look like?
— gossip, lies, anger, division, manipulation, sabotage…
Let me tell you: It is ALWAYS about personal, political gain. (i.e. Control)
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
This was not Jesus’s brother James, this was James, John’s brother, the son of Zebedee, one of the two whom Jesus called a “son of Thunder”…
Here is the question that is raised here: “Why do horrible things happen to one person while another seems to be blessed?”
Why was Peter rescued, while James was killed?
Was Jesus not with him?!?
There have been countless martyrs throughout the history of the Church, does that mean that Jesus was not with them?!?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
(illustration) Did you know that in 1959, there were more than 1 million Roman Catholics & 600,000 Protestants in China?
That doesn’t sound like a lot when the population is 1 billion, amen? But it was a seed.
In 1959, China closed its doors to the outside world. It seemed like a burial shroud for the Church. People said it would never survive…
However, when China reopened its doors in 1979, the Roman Catholic population had grown to 3 million, and the Protestant numbered over 3 million!
The church had grown over 53% under that 20 year persecution!
Until recently, China ranked as the fastest growing church in the world, and it was completely underground!!!
The Bible is clear, those who have been martyred over the centuries have not been defeated… They won!!!
How can that be?
Think about it… Where do we go when we (as believers) die? (I know that depends on who you ask, but bear with me)
Heaven, right?
Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
Paul told the Philippean church: Phil 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
How do we stand strong in the face of opposition, persecution, lies, even death?
By KNOWING whose we are!
Look at Rev. 7:9-10
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
The angel asks John, “Who are they?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
We don’t have to fear death… We don’t have to fear lack… We don’t have to fear persecution… because WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN!
Scripture says that He holds us in the palm of His hand! He will take care of us!
Millions upon millions of Christians have given up their lives for the Gospel, BUT… NONE OF THEM have been defeated!
They have overcome by the blood of Jesus!
They are victorious!!!
That’s what we celebrate!
We have been given victory through Jesus!
Matthew 16:17–18 (NIV)
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Have we been persecuted? Have we seen adversity? Have we experienced opposition? Division?
YES!!!
BUT… scripture says, “The gates of hell will not prevail against us!”
So, How do we stand in the face of it all?
How do we find Hope and Joy in-spite of our circumstances?
By realizing whose we are, and becoming a Praying Church.
Look at verses 3-5.
3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Herod was a “people pleaser.”
Killing James made the Jews happy, so he had Peter arrested.
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
This is interesting… Why so many guards?
Well… Peter had a reputation for being hard to hang on to. Remember in chapter 5, Peter and John had been arrested and thrown in prison, but then let go…
Herod wasn’t taking any chances!
So, he locks him up! Under 16 guards… 24/7 watch… chained between two of them…
Let me tell you: There are times in our lives when human strength alone is not enough… When our own abilities aren’t enough… When our skills and knowledge, even our money… is not enough.
Those are the times we have to hold on to the Lord’s strength!
Acts 12:5 (NIV)
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
(play with it)
Luke tells us that the church EARNESTLY prayed for him.
That word translated “earnestly” means “continuously, exhaustively, intensely, throughly…”
They were literally on their faces, pleading with God, for Peter’s release.
Let me tell you: There is a difference between the way we pray because we are short on cash and there are bills to pay, and when it is literally a case of life and death.
This was the case for Peter… It literally was “life or death”… so they prayed seriously for Peter!
And guess what?!!
God heard their prayers!
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.
9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Some of us have witnessed this same miracle over the past few weeks. (“Finish Line Pizza” baby)
Is that how we are praying for our church?!?
I gotta be honest… I don’t think it is!
Why?
Because even I have fallen short…
Guys, this literally is life or death for our church!!!
Eugene Patterson says: “While conflicts raged between good and evil, prayers went up from devout bands of 1st century Christians all over the Roman Empire. Massive engines of persecution and scorn were rag[ing] against them. They had neither weapons nor votes. They had little money and no prestige. But, They did have prayer. And that prayer helped shape the course of history.”
A praying church is an overcoming church!
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Can we stop the persecution? No. Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they WILL persecute you.” (John 15:20)
We don’t have to fear persecution. We know whose we are. We know where we are going. We can overcome persecution through prayer!
Jesus tells us:
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Paul tells us:
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray continually,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do you believe that God will do what He says He will do?
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
We need to start building a strong foundation for rebuilding this church… That foundation is prayer!
Will you commit to praying EARNESTLY for this church?
Will you get on your knees EVERYDAY and pray…
… for God’s Spirit to be poured out on each of us, on the pulpit, on our work, …
… for God’s provision to be poured out …
… for God’s direction to be poured out…
I’m not talking about a quick prayer in the morning… Luke says that they prayed continuously, fervently, desperately for Peter’s release…
Will you pray that way? Everyday? Every moment? Every time the church comes to your mind? Every time you prepare to come? Without ceasing? Until God answers…
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