Free to Speak
Notes
Transcript
When does freedom become valuable?
When does freedom become valuable?
A fish, a rocket, a Christian.
A fish, a rocket, a Christian.
If I buy a fish in order to set it free from a pet store, is the fish free?
Not yet, If I walk outside and empty the fish and it’s water onto the ground is it free?
Yes. Does it want to be free?
Freedom, by itself does not determine value.
For the fish to flourish and to be free I would have to find or create an ideal environment where the needs of the fish could be met.
I then release the fish there and it is free. It is free to explore, seek out food, it can grow. The freedom of the fish is really valuable when it is experienced in the right context.
Like the fish, we are created to be free within a specific environment.
If I was launched into space and then set free from the confines of the rocket . . . my freedom would be of little value.
Freedom is a gift from God. It is also one of the most easily and corrupted aspects of our existence. We run into the traps of overindulgence that leave people enslaved to food, drugs, entertainment, and more. Governments take away rights, determine who has value and who doesn’t, who can speak and who cannot. Mankind has fought countless battles and seemingly endless wars all because of freedom.
Christians understand that freedom is only a gift when it is lived in the environment that we were made for. That environment finds its fullest expression in a deep and abiding relationship with God. Many will push God aside as being old fashioned, impotent, or even destructive. They are fighting, like a fish out of water, for a freedom they weren’t designed for. They find anger and anxiety replacing the peace and happiness they seek. Worry and fear begin to dominate even the best parts of their life. The Christian knows why these things happen. We battle a selfish sinful side of ourselves. This is the side that the world promises will set people free but it enslaves instead. Christians lay down their self-made freedom in order to the be set free. This freedom is what motivates us to speak of salvation in Jesus. It is why we speak of good news, eternal life, and hope in the midst of pain.
Today’s passage is all about freedom. As Christians, how do we live in this freedom. If you don’t know Jesus as your savior, I invite you to be set free. Pause and think about your creator. He created you for a relationship with him. In him you will find freedom.
Freedom is only valuable when it is experienced in the way we were created to enjoy it.
READ
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.
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.”
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.
Three Key Players
Three Key Players
The Religious Leaders and Guards
Jealous Acts 5:17
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy
Fearful Acts 5:26
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.
Furious Acts 5:33
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
Vindictive Acts 5:40
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.
Peter
Obedient Acts 5:20-21
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.
Honest Acts 5:29
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Free Acts 5:41-42
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.
Gamaliel
Respected Acts 5:34
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.
Wise Acts 5:38-39
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,
Freedom to Speak
Freedom to Speak
We gain our freedom to speak from the command of Jesus:
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The authority is his.
The job is ours.
The assurance is his presence.
Our greatest freedom is experienced when we walk in the way God made us to walk.
What does this look like?
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
It is surrender to Jesus
It is unity in the body
It is love — The greatest commandments
The environment you were meant to live in, begins with loving devotion to God which enables genuine love for your neighbor. In this we find freedom.