Can't Stop, Won't Stop!
Notes
Transcript
I Can’t Stop, I Won’t Stop, Becuase IT Cannot Be Stopped!
I Can’t Stop, I Won’t Stop, Becuase IT Cannot Be Stopped!
Our last message in Acts was Annaias and Sapphira. Two disobedient people who incurred the wrath of God for their lying.
After that incident, the disciples kept on going. Which I think wa a powerful message to this new church...We Can’t stop, we won’t stop!
No obstacles will cause us to slow down. This sin issue...it’s done, its over, we dealt with it and now its time to move on.
There is another lesson in this...the church dealt with the sin...and the church flourished. The church would have died had it let sin prevail.
That is a lesson for modern day churches everywhere.
Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
So their message was spreading. The word was out. People were responding.
The church is not dead...it is very much alive, so we can’t stop, won’t stop.
A Timely Miracle
But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.
They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”
Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.
Apostles are arrested.
An Angel of the Lord opens the gate
Gives them these instructions. “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the WHOLE MESSAGE of this Life.”
Truth #1 - A Timely Miracle often leads to a Terrific Message
A Terrific Message
But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,
saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.”
Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.
But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,
saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
An empty jail cell...This timely miralce will happen again in Acts at least 2 more times.
If you count the empty tomb...4 x total. What does that say? GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR US TO STAY SHACKLED AND IN BONDAGE. He is a chain breaker.
We CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP!
Disciples crought back before the council.
A Terrific Message: You killed Jesus, God rasied him from the dead.
God exalteed Him as Prince and Savior.
He grants repentance to ISrael and Forgives Sin
We are witnesses, and so is the Holy Spirit.
That is a Terrific Message. It is a message meant for all people. Even now.
Wednesday night plug: We started a new Bible Study on Wed night. Bible Interpreation. And we are studying about things like context, and hermanutics, and how to know if a verse is then or now?
Even though this message was given thousands of years ago, it is still meant for today. This is not a message that was meant only for Israel. The gospel is global, universal, meant for all people.
Truth #2 - Terrific Messages can result in Terrible Mistreatments
A Terrible Mistreatment
But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.
“For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
“After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.
“So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
The initial response is death. The council wanted to kill them like they killed Jesus.
That is not just terrible mistreatment it is the ultimate mistreatment. Death
Then you have Gamaliel. A voice of reason. Well educated man.
Utlimately spares the disciples from death (This time...we all know that the discilpes are all martyred or exiled in John’s case, for their faith.
Theudas and Judas of Galilee rose up caused a commotion, and were killed. Then their cause died out.
But what he said next is powerful. “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
Can’t stop, won’t stop...because it is from God and IT CANNOT BE STOPPED.
Then the disciples were flogged. Beaten with a whip. A pretty severe punishment.
Truth #3 - Terrible Mistreatements can often result in Triumphant Ministries.
A Triumphant Ministry
So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Here the result of the flogging...they rejoiced. Can you honestly say that if you were be flogged for Jesus sake...that you would rejoice?
They rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
Not only did they rejoice...the didn’t stop. Can’t stop, won’t stop. Because it cannot be stopped.
What about you? Are you stopping? Are you rejoicing?
Are you tempted to give up? Are will you perservere?
We can’t stop and won’t stop. That was the example of the disiples and it should be our mantra as well. CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP!
