DO YOU HAVE COURAGE?
Notes
Transcript
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
INTRODUCTION: COURAGE IS EASY WHEN OTHERS ARE CHEERING FOR YOU
IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH RESOLVE TO FOLLOW CHRIST
WHEN YOUR FAITH IS CELEBRATED
OR YOUR OBEDIENCE IS IMMEDIATELY REWARDED.
PETER REMINDS US IN HIS FIRST LETTER THAT THE TRUE TEST OF FAITH COMES
WHEN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT BRINGS RESISTANCE RATHER THAN APPROVAL
LOOK AT 1 PE 2:20
For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
HE REMINDS US THAT FOLLOWING CHRIST DOES NOT REMOVE PRESSURE—
IT OFTEN INCREASES IT.
THE GOSPEL DOES NOT ALWAYS INVITE APPLAUSE; SOMETIMES IT INVITES OPPOSITION.
PETER AND JOHN DISCOVERED THAT OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST PLACED THEM DIRECTLY IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
THREATENED, WARNED, AND COMMANDED TO BE SILENT, THEY DID NOT RETREAT OR REVISE THEIR MESSAGE. INSTEAD, THEY STOOD FIRM, CHOOSING FAITHFULNESS OVER FEAR AND OBEDIENCE OVER COMFORT. THEIR RESPONSE TEACHES US THAT COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF DANGER BUT THE DETERMINATION TO STAND WHEN DANGER IS PRESENT. THIS MESSAGE CALLS US TO EXAMINE WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO LIVE FOR CHRIST WHEN FAITH IS PUT ON TRIAL AND TRUTH IS PLACED UNDER FIRE
I. COURAGE TO BE SHACKLED FOR HIM
I. COURAGE TO BE SHACKLED FOR HIM
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
AFTER THE MAN AT THE GATE BEAUTIFUL WAS HEALED
PETER PREACH THE GREATEST MESSAGE EVER TOLD
JESUS CHRIST AND HIS RESURRECTION.
HE WAS FULLY AWARE THE WORD COULD EITHER
DRAW PEOPLE OR DRIVE THEM AWAY
THEY KNEW PREACHING THE WORD WOULD BRING
PERSECUTION
HE PREACHED KNOWING THAT PROCLAIMING
THE RESURRECTION WOULD PROVOKE HOSTILITY
MATTHEW CHAPTER 5:10-12
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
SO, IN VERSE 2
WHEN THE PRIESTS, THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE GUARD,
AND THE SADDUCEES BECAME OFFENDED
being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
DON’T BE THROWN OFF
THEY HATED HIS MESSAGE
THEY WILL HATE YOURS
THEY HATED HIS MINISTRY
THEY WILL HATE YOURS
SO IN VERSE 3
WHEN THEY SEIZED THEM AND PLACED THEM IN CUSTODY,
And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
THEY WERE NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
THEY KNEW THAT OPPOSITION WOULD COME
LISTEN TO JESUS WORDS IN LUKE 21:12
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
PETER’S COURAGE WAS NOT ROOTED IN HIS PERSONALITY
BUT IN THE CERTAINTY OF HIS MESSAGE.
BECAUSE CHRIST HAD CONQUERED DEATH,
THEIR SHACKLES LOST THEIR POWER.
LIKE A SOLDIER WHO STANDS FIRM
KNOWING CAPTURE IS POSSIBLE,
PETER CHOSE OBEDIENCE OVER COMFORT,
PROVING THAT CHRIST IS WORTH MORE THAN PERSONAL CONFINEMENT.
WHICH IS WHY LATER IN HIS MINISTRY
PETER TO STRUGGLING
PERSECUTED AND AFFLICTED
SAINTS
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
WILL YOU
BE COURAGEOUS EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE CONFINEMENT
WILL YOU
BE COURAGEOUS EVEN WHEN IT BRINGS CONFRONTATION
WILL YOU
BE COURAGEOUS EVEN WHEN IT BRINGS SHACKLES
BECAUSE GOD BREAKS THE CHAINS OF THE ENEMY
DO YOU HAVE COURAGE
II. COURAGE TO BE SPEAK FOR HIM
II. COURAGE TO BE SPEAK FOR HIM
THEY SCRIBES AND PHARISEES ASKED IN VERSE 7
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
THEY HAD ALREADY ACCUSED JESUS
WORKING THROUGH THE POWER
OF BEELZEBUB IN MATTHEW 9
But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
NOW THEY ARE ASKING PETER BY WHAT POWER
HE HAS HEALED THIS MAN
PETER DISPLAYED UNMISTAKABLE COURAGE
HE SPOKE FOR CHRIST AS
HE STOOD BEFORE THE SAME RELIGIOUS LEADERS
WHO ORCHESTRATED JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION.
VERSE 8 SAID
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
HE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT,
PETER DID NOT HESITATE,
HE DID RETREAT
HE DID NOT REFRAME THE TRUTH
WHAT DID HE SAY
LOOK AT VERSE 10
let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
INSTEAD, HE BOLDLY PROCLAIMS THAT THE MIRACLE
THEY ARE QUESTIONING WAS ACCOMPLISHED
BY THE NAME AND POWER OF JESUS CHRIST.
THIS JESUS, THEY CRUCIFIED BUT GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
PETER’S COURAGE IS EVIDENT IN THAT HE NAMES THEIR GUILT
WITHOUT BITTERNESS AND
HE EXALTS GOD’S WORK WITHOUT FEAR.
This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
PETER EXPOSES THEIR SPIRITUAL FAILURE
BY DECLARING THAT JESUS IS THE REJECTED STONE
WHO HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE.
HE CONFRONTED THEM WITH THE REALITY THAT
REJECTING CHRIST IS REJECTING GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN.
THEY REJECTED THAT CHRIST OFFERED
MERCY FOR THE MISERABLE
GRACE FOR THE GUILTY
FREEDOM FOR THE FUGITIVE
BLESSINGS FOR THE BURDEN
VICTORY FOR VICTIMS
AND
SALVATION FOR THE SINNER
YET PETER DECLARED IN VERSE 12
WITH BOLDNESS
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
No Christ, No Change of Character
NO CHRIST, No Change of Convictions
NO CHRIST, No Change of Confidence
NO CHRIST, No Change of Heart
NO CHRIST, No Change of Mind
No Christ, No Church
IN AN ATMOSPHERE
HOSTILE TO TRUTH,
PETER REFUSES TO DILUTE THE GOSPEL
HE DID NOT REMAIN SILENT.
HE SPOKE UP
WITH COURAGE THAT FLOWED FROM CONVICTION,
HE WAS NOT BEING DEFIANCE,
HE SPOKE OUT OF OBEDIENCE, NOT RECKLESSNESS.
WHEN SAINTS ARE CONVINCED OF WHO CHRIST IS
AND WHAT HE ALONE CAN DO,
COURAGE TO SPEAK BECOMES UNAVOIDABLE,
EVEN WHEN QUESTIONED
WE MUST HAVE COURAGE TO SPEAK
EVEN WHEN SHACKLED
WE MUST HAVE COURAGE TO SPEAK FOR HIM
DO YOU HAVE COURAGE
III. COURAGE TO BE STAND FOR HIM
III. COURAGE TO BE STAND FOR HIM
PETER AND JOHN DISPLAY COURAGE TO STAND FOR CHRIST
BY REFUSING TO BE SILENCED BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
THEY STOOD ON THEIR CONVICTIONS
LOOK AT VERSE 19 AND 20
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
THEY FIRMLY DECLARED THAT
OBEDIENCE TO GOD OUTWEIGHS OBEYING MEN.
THEIR RESPONSE WAS NOT MARKED BY DEFIANCE BUT BY CONVICTION.
THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT COMPLIANCE TO THE COUNCIL WOULD BE COMPROMISE.
FAITHFULNESS TO GOD MEANT MORE THAN THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY.
COURAGE TO STAND FOR CHRIST IS REVEALED
WHEN FAITHFULNESS TO GOD MATTERS MORE THAN PERSONAL SAFETY.
ASK THE 3 HEBREW MEN IN Daniel 3:16–18
THE STOOD DESPITE THE FIRE
ASK DANIEL Daniel 6:10
HE STOOD DESPITE THE DECREE
MOSES STOOD BEFORE PHARAOH
ELIJAH STOOD BEFORE AHAB
AND PETER AND JOHN STOOD
THEY SAID THAT
THEY COULD NOT STOP SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.
JESUS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE
HIS WITNESSES
AND THEY HAD TO TESTIFY
THEY HAD TO
TELL ABOUT THIS IRREFUTABLE REALITY
LIKE A WITNESS SWORN IN A COURTROOM,
ONCE THEY HAD SEEN THE RISEN CHRIST,
SILENCE WAS NO LONGER AN OPTION.
TO WITHHOLD TESTIMONY WOULD HAVE BEEN A DENIAL OF TRUTH.
THEY HAD TO TELL OTHERS
If you need to understand
He is the Truth
If you need to see
He is the True Light
If you need saving
He is the Savior
WHAT ABOUT YOU
DO YOU HAVE COURAGE?
DO YOU HAVE COURAGE?
TO TELL THE WRONG
He is the Redeemer
TO TELL THE WICKED
He is the Prophet
TO TELL THE HELPLESS
He is the Mediator
TO TELL THE OPPRESSED
He is the Judge
TO TELL THE FALLEN
He is the Sustainer
TO TELL THOSE IN NEED
He is the Provider
TO TELL THE SINFUL
He is the Holy One
THIS TYPE OF COURAGE FLOWED FROM ALLEGIANCE TO , NOT ARROGANCE.
AS SAINTS
WHO HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST,
WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO RETREAT
BECAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION,
YET
REAL COURAGE STANDS FIRM FOR CHRIST.
YOUR LOYALTY TO GOD SHOULD ALWAYS STAND DESPITE THE SITUATION.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
DO YOU HAVE COURAGE?
DO YOU HAVE COURAGE?
TRUE COURAGE FOR CHRIST IS NOT ONE-DIMENSIONAL.
IT INCLUDES THE COURAGE TO BE SHACKLED WITHOUT SHAME,
THE COURAGE TO SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR, AND
THE COURAGE TO STAND WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
WHEN CHRIST IS TRULY WORTH DYING FOR,
HE IS CERTAINLY WORTH SUFFERING FOR.
AND
WHEN HE IS WORTH SUFFERING FOR,
HE IS WORTH STANDING FOR—
REGARDLESS OF
THE PRESSURE, OPPOSITION, OR COST.
WILL YOU BE FOUND FAITHFUL
WILL YOU BE FOUND COURAGEOUS
WILL YOU BE FOUND UNWAVERING
AS WE LIVE OUT THE MISSION
CHRIST HAS ENTRUSTED TO US.
