Unstoppable

TITLE: UNSTOPPABLE

Acts 5:12-42 Main Idea: Nothing can stop the work of God when the people of God obey the Word of God.

In January 1925, the small town of Nome, Alaska, was being decimated by an outbreak of diphtheria. Children were dying. The town was locked in by a record-breaking arctic winter—temperatures hit -50°F, and the ice was too thick for ships. The only hope was a life-saving serum located 1,000 miles away in Anchorage.

The mission seemed impossible. Engines wouldn't start in that cold. Pilots couldn't fly in those winds. So, they turned to the only thing that could move: sled dog teams. Over the next five days, 20 different teams of mushers and dogs ran a relay in a white-out blizzard. They faced "unstoppable" obstacles: frozen limbs, exhaustion, and literal walls of snow. But because the mission was life or death, they didn't stop. They traveled through the night, across cracking ice, and delivered the serum in record time.

The Tie-in: In Acts 5, the world is in a spiritual pandemic. Death is winning. The Sanhedrin, the prison walls, and the threats of death were the "arctic winds" trying to freeze the Gospel in its tracks. But the Apostles knew they carried the "serum"—the words of this Life (v. 20). When the mission is life-saving and the Power behind it is God, the movement becomes unstoppable.

Acts 5:12–42 read

1. Walk in God’s Power

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.

The Power Strip Illustration: Imagine a high-end power strip. It has multiple outlets, a surge protector, and a sleek design. But if that strip isn't plugged into the wall, it can’t even charge a smartphone. The Apostles were "plugged in" through prayer and the Holy Spirit. Often, we try to "do ministry" by just being a fancy power strip, wondering why there’s no "spark." Power comes from the source, not the vessel.

2. Trust God to Provide

Acts 5:17–21 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. 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.

The Locked Door Paradox: In many modern "Escape Rooms," you are trapped until you solve a puzzle. The Apostles were in a divine Escape Room, but they didn't solve it—the Designer simply opened the door. Sometimes we focus on the "locks" in our lives (finances, health, opposition), while God is already standing by the door with the key.

3. Obey God, not People

Acts 5:22–32 ESV

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. 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.”

ILLUSTRATION

During WWII, Desmond Doss (the subject of Hacksaw Ridge) refused to carry a weapon due to his convictions, despite immense pressure and mockery from his superiors. He chose to obey his conscience and God. Because he stood his ground against "men," he ended up saving 75 lives on Okinawa. When we obey God rather than men, we aren't being "rebellious"—we are being loyal to a higher Kingdom.

4. Know God’s will Prevails.

Acts 5:33–42 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. 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 "Chinese Bamboo" Growth: There is a species of Chinese Bamboo that, when planted, shows no growth above ground for five years. You water it and weed it, but see nothing. Then, in the fifth year, it grows 80 feet in just six weeks. To the Council, the Church looked like a tiny, annoying weed they could stomp out. But because it was God's work, the "root system" was unstoppable.

CLOSING

The "Unstoppable" River: You can throw a boulder into a river to try and stop it. All you’ve done is create a waterfall. The water just goes over, under, or around the rock, and keeps moving toward the ocean. The Sanhedrin was the boulder; the Holy Spirit was the river.