Kingdom Values

Acts 4:13–22 ESV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Intro - One of the key dynamics that I want you all to be aware of as we go through Acts is the battle of one kingdom versus another. In no small way the Kingdom of God was invading the Empire of Rome and invading nationalistic Israel. But more importantly it was invading the Kingdom of Darkness. You’ll see this time and again as the apostles come up against rulers in various settings and are challenged. This section gives us some key insights in how to engage with this Kingdom of the World that we are called to be ambassadors to and the different value systems that they operate under.

Intro - One of the key dynamics that I want you all to be aware of as we go through Acts is the battle of one kingdom versus another. In no small way the Kingdom of God was invading the Empire of Rome and invading nationalistic Israel. But more importantly it was invading the Kingdom of Darkness. You’ll see this time and again as the apostles come up against rulers in various settings and are challenged. This section gives us some key insights in how to engage with this Kingdom of the World that we are called to be ambassadors to and the different value systems that they operate under.

Value of the Man

Acts 4:13–16 ESV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

Acts 4:12–16 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

Acts 4:13 ESV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:12-

First the Sadducees evaluated the men, Peter and John

It’s interesting how we evaluate people’s worth…appearance, education, experiences, relationship to others, etc. all come into play.

Story of Mr. Robert and him being a multimillionaire yet sitting there in a house that I wouldn’t want to live in with holes in his socks.

They witnessed that they were uneducated amateurs but were bold in speaking to the “professionals”

They recognized that they had been with Jesus

So now they’re piecing it together and realizing that their boldness was acquired from their relationship with Jesus.

They couldn’t process completely what they were witnessing because in that culture, boldness, especially toward those in power, was only acquired through proper education and instruction, through their system.

God cared not for the systems of man but utilized the foolish things as being valuable to fulfilling His goal.

Second they evaluated the miracle, the once lame beggar

Peter and John were directly attacking not just the Sadducees but the very system that crucified Jesus.

The system that they had bought in to and trusted in and allowed them to grow in prominence.

But that system wouldn’t have valued men like Peter and John OR the lame beggar.

They weren’t good enough, educated enough, couldn’t offer enough....they weren’t ENOUGH!!! And yet here they were

There are elements of what you have bought into not because it actually works anymore but it’s all that you have ever known so you cling to it. It has in some ways done well for you but it never granted you what you really wanted…rest.

Second they evaluated the miracle, the once lame beggar

They could not argue with the reality that they had a 40 year old, once lame beggar, STANDING in front of them.

See so now they’re scared…they don’t know what to do.

So they conferred with one another about how to handle it literally in the Greek they considered the matter and possible conclusions...

They had a lot to consider at the moment

First they had a hierarchal issue…they had uneducated men challenging the educated

Second they had a power issue…they couldn’t leverage the authority of God because God was obviously doing something outside of them.

So when someone is robbed of systemic/formal power AND influential/informal power they are powerless.

When you are adopted into the Kingdom of God both systems and influences are rendered powerless.

The only way those things can have power over you is for them to get you to repatriate.

The system that they had bought in to and trusted in and allowed them to grow in prominence.

There are elements of what you have bought into not because it actually works anymore but it’s all that you have ever known so you cling to it. It has in some ways done well for you but it never granted you what you really wanted…rest.

Third they evaluated the masses, and their response to what happened

In the Kingdom of God there is rest, in the Kingdom of Darkness there is only meaningless titles and vain work. In the Kingdom of Darkness you AREN’T ENOUGH!

But through your relationship with Jesus you can confound and confuse them.

TR: the next item that was questioned was the value of the masses...

Value of the Masses

Secondly they evaluated the masses, and their response to what happened.

It’s interesting how the Sanhedrin wielded so much power yet even by their own admission they were submissive to the power of the people.

See when you’re in the Kingdom of Darkness you view people as a means to an end. The end being your comfort.

The Sanhedrin knew that if they challenged Peter and John at that moment that they would be going against their political base and therefore let them off with a warning.

Before you think you’re better than them let’s be honest. There are people that you aren’t enjoying right now that you’re waiting to cut off but the time ain’t right.

They’re not serving your God of Comfort so you’ll let them hang around for now because to make a change would be too messy.

Some of your marriages operate on this principle. Some of your jobs, relationships, etc. You’re functioning on the principle that people and things are there to feed into your comfort.

To Peter and John the response of the masses was to a degree meaningless....they’re gonna take it however they want to. People aren’t there for them instead they are there for people.

Eventually those same masses that were praising God would be calling for Peter and John’s death.

Their support or rejection was empty.

It wasn’t that Peter and John didn’t care for the masses because obviously those were their countrymen and they desired to see them saved. However, their identity was not caught up in them.

If some of you all saw your roles as ambassadors to your jobs, family, associates, etc. it’d change everything.

It’d produce this beautiful display we see here where Peter and John both respected the authority, maintained integrity in their response and in wisdom realigned the Sanhedrin’s perspective that there problem wasn’t with Peter and John but was with God who allowed them to witness Jesus’s resurrection.

Lastly, the Sanhedrin showed us how they valued the miracle...

Value of the Miracle

Lastly, they evaluated the miracle, the once lame beggar

They could not argue with the reality that they had a 40 year old, once lame beggar, STANDING in front of them.

See so now they’re scared…they don’t know what to do.

So they conferred with one another about how to handle it literally in the Greek they considered the matter and possible conclusions...

They had a lot to consider at the moment

First they had a hierarchal issue…they had uneducated men challenging the educated

Second they had a power issue…they couldn’t leverage the authority of God because God was obviously doing something outside of them.

So when someone is robbed of systemic/formal power AND influential/informal power they are powerless.

When you are adopted into the Kingdom of God both systems and influences are rendered powerless.

I remember reading Foxes Book of Martyrs and being amazed at the stories of people that went to all forms of persecution and martyrdom and how many of them rejoiced as they faced it. How they sang songs as they walked toward instruments of torment. And no amount of threats from the persecutor and no amount of pain inflicted seemed to work. It only made the church stronger.

The only way those things can have power over you is for them to get you to repatriate. If you buy back into them.

There are people here that have one foot in the Kingdom of God because you witnessed the miracle of a changed life yet are keeping one foot in the world for security.

See the point of God using the miracle was to show that the Kingdom of God had power outside of the system Peter and John were in.

The Sanhedrin couldn’t deny it either but what’s interesting is that they also didn’t buy into it…they had too much at stake.

Although the value of the miracle was great they weighed it against how they could use it or how it conflicted with their own agenda!!!

So the value of that person was exclusively viewed in relation to THEM rather than in relation to God!!

How does this look for you? You’ll say “Jesus I know you change lives but I can’t let go of my relationship” or “Jesus I know you worked a miracle in that person over there but I can’t let go of my fear”

So just like the Sanhedrin you SUPPRESS IT!!!

There are some here who still believe that you have too much to lose so you won’t let go of that old system, that old Kingdom, that old life. HOW DO YOU VALUE THE MIRACLE???

TR: Lastly the Sanhedrin had to weigh the value of the masses...

Embrace what Peter and John did…you are FREE from that old way. The Kingdom of Darkness has NO power over you!

Third they evaluated the masses, and their response to what happened.

It’s interesting how the Sanhedrin wielded so much power yet even by their own admission they were submissive to the power of the people.

See when you’re in the Kingdom of Darkness you view people as a means to an end. The end being your comfort.

The Sanhedrin knew that if they challenged Peter and John at that moment that they would be going against their politic base and therefore let them off with a warning.

Before you think you’re better than them let’s be honest. There are people that you aren’t enjoying right now that you’re waiting to cut off but the time ain’t right.

They’re not serving your God of Comfort so you’ll let them hang around for now because to make a change would be too messy.

Some of your marriages operate on this principle. Some of your jobs, relationships, etc. You’re functioning on the principle that people and things are there to feed into your comfort.

I know some in here are dying to be bold…not just with witnessing but being vulnerable, being honest, letting go of pain and expectations.

To Peter and John the response of the masses was to a degree meaningless....they’re gonna take it however they want to. People aren’t there for them instead they are there for people.

Eventually those same masses that were praising God would be calling for Peter and John’s death.

Let me tell you that Jesus’s burden is LIGHT! He CAN FREE YOU! He does miracles like that FREQUENTLY!!! Trust Him please before it is too late.

Their support or rejection was empty.

It wasn’t that Peter and John didn’t care for the masses because obviously those were their countrymen and they desired to see them saved. However, their identity was not caught up in them.

If some of you all saw your roles as ambassadors to your jobs, family, associates, etc. it’d change everything.

It’d produce this beautiful display we see here where Peter and John both respected the authority, maintained integrity in their response and in wisdom realigned the Sanhedrin’s perspective that there problem wasn’t with Peter and John but was with God who allowed them to witness Jesus’s resurrection.