Take Care

As we prepare to read from God's word, today we're going to read from the book of Acts and I would remind you that acts is the second volume. We have that happened in the scriptures in the Old Testament. For example, there's the first and second volume of Kings. And the first, and second volume of Chronicles, you might even say there's multiple volumes in the New Testament. When you have the first and second letter to the church in Corinth or the first and second letter to the church in Thessaloniki, or maybe you could go even so far as to say the first second, and third letter of John, But in this case, acts is the second volume of a different named first volume, which is what we know as the gospel according to Luke. Luke is volume 1. And acts is volume 2. Luke concerns the person of Jesus Christ, and acts is concerned about the work of the Holy Spirit. In Luke, we hear God's great gift to all people. The gift of Jesus, that he would die for our sins. And through that death, that we would be forgiven. And that he'd be raised again from the dead. And then, in the second volume of Acts, we hear how the holy spirit is taking that good news of Jesus Christ. And spreading that news into the world, through all manner of Works, including the works of the Apostles, hence the name, the Acts of the Apostles. Well, if the focus is to spread God's good news to make sure that word gets out, that others would know that God has sent his son to die for us. That our sins may be forgiven that we might live at peace with our God. If we make Jesus, our lord and savior. If that is the intent. Then there would be a problem if that message was cut short.

and indeed that appears to be what is about to happen in the reading, we have this morning Now you might recall if you go back to the gospels, you might recall that Jesus's end came when he finally had to come before the ruling Council of religious leaders. A ruling Council. That's known as the Sanhedrin. Jesus gets one chance before them and then he's shipped off the pilot and crucified. Well, the apostles also found themselves before the Sanhedrin. you would think it'd be all over then, but the first time is Peter, and John after they healed, the lame man, in that lame, man was hopping around the temple and Peter, and John were hauled in before the Sanhedrin and They didn't relent they were continue to share the good news of Jesus and the Sanhedrin didn't know what to do. So they they warn them, they charge them, they sent them off.

The second time. All the apostles were rounded up locked up for the night so that the next morning, the Sanhedrin might deal with them. Finally Only an angel came in the night and released them and then instructed them to go back into the temple. Such that when the Sanhedrin gathered in the morning and called for the prisoners, those Apostles, they weren't there. And the temple guard ended up finding them in the temple. Rounded them up yet again now, we are at the third time. So Jesus goes one time and he's done. Here, we are the third time. The apostles are rounded up. Will God's message come to an end? We'll read from Acts chapter 5, verses 27 through 42. Let's pray that God's word would be open to us. Oh Lord, you are great and wonderful. We are overwhelmed that you have sent your son and your tremendous love. To free us from our sins to free us from the many ways, in which we drift and run away from you. Then we might be claimed again as your own your children. Oh Lord. So we pray as your children now that your Holy Spirit would work among us to help us to learn our story. To help us discover your love and direction for us. We pray this Jesus in your precious name. Amen.

So we pick it up with the temple guard, rounding up the apostles once again, at verse 27. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest question them saying, We strictly charge you not to teach in this name. Yeah, here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you 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 Jesus. Whom you killed by hanging on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to give 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.

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 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.

and he said to them, men of Israel. Take care, what you are about to do with these men. For before these days, Thudius rose up. Claiming to be somebody and a number of men about 400 joined him He was killed and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up, in those days of the census, and drew away some of the people after him he to perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

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 men? It will fall. but, if it is of god, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found to be opposing. God

So, they took his advice. and when they'd called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them, not to speak in the name of Jesus. And let them go. Then they left the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And everyday in the temple. And from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

So, if you have been here, any number of Sundays here in the summer, you know, that we have been taking maybe a little different approach to the New Testament, we've been journey through and looking at those individuals, those characters in the scriptures that are not as well-known. We've been discovering in them, their faith, and their, their love of God, and how they're small impact had an enormous impact, on the Church of Jesus Christ. Now on one hand we can say we've been looking at these individuals to free ourselves from the burden of some of the Giants. In the faith, the Peters, the Paul's those who we might struggle, feeling we can live up to that. We need someone more down to our size. We could say that was part of our interests. we could also say it's a part of rounding out our understanding and seeing that there's more to the story often then we recall when we read the scriptures in small bits, No matter the approach we've been taking this time and learning more about God's word to us. And this Sunday we're going to take yet another twist. We're going to once again look at a character that is not as familiar but this time the person we're going to look at is not a follower of Jesus.

This time we're going to look at someone who has a large impact on the Church of Jesus Christ, but is not a follower of Jesus Christ and see what he may yet. Have to teach us how the Holy Spirit uses him to help us grow. You probably already figured out who this individual is. We're going to look at the Pharisee, the rabbi Gamaliel is that one who stood up in the Sanhedrin in the council and and ask for a pause. Before they became too enraged and went off to kill the apostles. Now before we dig a little further into the events that we just read it's probably important to do a little bit of background. You see, Leo shows up only twice in the New Testament. This is one of those times but he is one of those characters. One of those individuals that is documented outside of the Holy scriptures. And other words, we have other evidence for his existence and his life more than one document more than one place that he shows up. It turns out he was quite an individual You see, Gamaliel.

Had a major. What do you what do you call it? When someone comes from a strong and important line a pedigree

You see, Gamaliel was part of one of the two major schools of thought among the Pharisees. Now, before your eyes glaze over, I want to take you back to your little little learnings of philosophy back in school. And you remember learning that there were difference between those who followed Plato and Socrates and maybe those who followed Aristotle. Those were different schools of thought. And in the same way in the rabbinic history, there were two main schools of thought and Gamaliel is said to be the grandson of the founder of one of those schools of thought. Others debate whether or not he was the actual grandson, but he is the torchbearer for that school of thought.

He was enormously important among the people. Indeed, he was not only a rabbi. He received the title Rabanne, which was a title that only eight, rabbis in all of that time ever received, he was kind of the rabbi of rabbis it's recorded outside of scripture that when he died? It said the glory of the law,

Died.

There was a lot of credit put-upon Gamaliel He had Authority when he spoke. And so it's no surprise that when he stood up, amidst, all the fury and all the excitement and all the anger, over these Apostles that stand before the council, when everybody is yelling death to them, it's no surprise that when he stood up, everything went quiet.

A hornets nest all stirred up and imagine it just all stopping. As Gamaliel. Stood up.

now, as we prepared to hear what he had to say,

Let us consider first. Why they were so stirred up. Why they were ready to kill these apostles.

The charges were three. First. That they'd already been told to cease and desist. They'd already been told to stop telling people about Jesus.

The second charge was that they've been telling people about Jesus so much that. Now, all of Jerusalem is filled,

With the story. And the wondering, And the possibility. That Jesus was God's anointed one sent by God.

And the Third charge? well that was a little personal. The religious rulers were saying, not only all that, but you're laying his death upon us, you're blaming us among the people. Three charges: 1. You didn't obey us to you. 2. Keep telling everybody such that, everybody know, nose and 3, you're blaming us for his death. now, you would expect Then when you were between a rock and a hard place has an apostle, when you're in a tough place, that you might modify what you. Now have to say against the charges, if you walk into a courtroom, and the judge says, you are being charged with X Y and Z. You might want to talk about a b and c.

but instead, The apostles open their mouth and answer each one of the charges. the begin with charge number one that they didn't obey, they say, Why would we ever obey man over God? Concerning charge number to that. They were spreading the name of Jesus throughout Jerusalem. They started to spread the name of Jesus right there in the Sanhedrin. Telling them that God has sent the anointed one. For Israel. That he had died for their sins. So that all may repent and be of God. And the third one that they were telling everyone, that That the Sanhedrin was a reason that just have been killed. They look him straight in the eyes and said, and you killed him.

Three charges in all three. They said you got that, right? We did each one and the place goes boom! Explodes in anger and they're ready to kill him. And it's in that moment, that Gamaliel stands up.

And it's with the authority that is vested in him. Even though he's not the high priest, The Authority that comes from all the people, everyone who lifts him up as a great teacher of the law. It is from that Authority that he can say, first and foremost, take those men and send them out right now. Get them out of the room.

And you can imagine the whisperings, to one another, as people sat down. As the men were escorted out. The doors closed.

And now all eyes are on him.

And what does he say?

He says men of Israel.

I imagine he said it right in this kind of tone. Without yelling or raising his voice. Knowing that he had every heart and mind listening to him.

Men of Israel. Take care. What you are about to do to these men. Take care.

Take care is always good advice.

take care in this case, if you break down the meanings of the words, Is literally to look at what you hold.

To take seriously, what you have in your hands. It is the literal meaning of the word. We carry things all the time. How many of us have walked around with our keys in our hands asking other people to help us find her keys? We're wonder where our glasses are when they're sitting on her head. We are full of busyness carrying and holding so many things, that oftem and we are not attentive to what we have is good advice to take care, to take that moment to stop.

And think about what's really in our hands. Just like this moment right now that we gather week after week after week after week to take care and the think, why are we really here?

Is it for us?

Was it that we've come to give God everything that we are to give praise and honor and worth to God to take care. And we certainly want to receive from God as well. But first and foremost our gathering here is about God.

Gavelis else's advice. That is good for anyone and all people across the ages. Take care. Look at what you have in your hands. In this case, they have the apostles in their hands. Don't worry about the fact that they slipped out a few times. They have them right now where they want them.

And he says, take care.

Consider what you have in your hands.

And this is where. The advisement becomes so powerful.

Because he doesn't just leave us with that momentary. Take care like a, parent to a child, think about what you're doing.

It's more than that. because he then presents them with the two options that are before us with every breath we take,

The two considerations that are before us in any action, we might take whether we're thinking about it or not, he's now lays out the difference of the moment.

The difference between

Is this moment? A moment created by, man.

Or is this moment a moment created by God?

That's the question. He asked them to consider.

Now the inference and I'm sure his belief is that this is likely a moment created by man, but that's how he leads in it begins by talking about other individuals that are already lost once we read and write over their names, they meant nothing to us.

Indeed, unless you have the scriptures before us right now, if I took a quiz of everyone in this room, chances are none of us would name, even one of the two names of the historical figures. That he lays before the council. But the council knew. The council knew both names lifted up.

We have historical documents, that lifts up all manner of people who stepped forward and said, they were God's anointed one who created followers behind themselves. And we're finally destroyed came to nothing and it turns out the two ones that he lists are ones that we do have historically documented.

And he says, in each case, they turned out to be a movement of man. One of the two individuals actually said that he was going to part the Jordan just like Joshua long ago and there he was at the Jordan and everybody's waiting from the part, the waters And guess what happened?

Nothing.

and as Gamaliel says to the Sanhedrin,

nothing came of these individuals. If these so-called apostles who are before us just a moment ago, are an action of man for which you are convinced they are and you want to kill them because other teaching people fall sings, if they really are of man, it will come. To nothing.

but,

If they are. Of God.

This is the alternative every breath we take. Is this a man? Or is this a God? If this is a movement of God You will not be able to stop them.

And in fact, May find yourself working against God.

Remember the Acts of the Apostles is about the Holy Spirit pushing God's message of good news of the grace that is given us in the death of Jesus Christ. It is the holy spirit, pushing that message out the holy spirit that is releasing. The apostles from prison and shoving them back into the temple to teach even more. It is a holy spirit that is at work and Gamaliel is saying look, If this is a movement of God, you will not be able to stop it.

I used to laugh. Some of my Minister colleagues would give as justification for changing the way we do things that we've been, we got to do this, because we've been binding the Holy Spirit, that's their language. We've been, we've been binding the Holy Spirit and that every time they say that I just have to laugh, you can't bind the Holy Spirit. That's not possible.

If this is a work of God, you will not be able to stop it.

Those were the choices. So many times in life we the church have believed we've been busy about the work of God and we have worked contrary to God's will.

I'll name the Big E's that are easy for us to Crusades, Inquisition, apartheid. I'm sure you could add to the list. Of how the church? Has worked against. God.

Take care.

It'd be a nice teaching to stop there. Because we're left with well how do I know if this is of God or not of God, we're left with that struggle. How do I discern? You may remember earlier, I had mentioned that Gamaliel shows up twice in the scriptures. We've been discussing this first time. The second time he shows up, is towards the end of the book of Acts of the Apostles in the 22nd chapter, where we learn

That Saul later known as Paul. Was one of Gamaliel's disciples.

Saul- Paul in explaining to the Jewish leaders who captured him and are charging him with things as he speaks to the Jewish people. He tries to appeal to them by saying I trained at the feet of gamaliya.

You know, Paul is famous for saying he's a Pharisee of Pharisees that he was. He was at one time. Very well trained. That's because he trained at the best and brightest. What is it Harvard or Oxford sorbonne? He trained among the greatest.

Now, here's the fascinating thing. And that choice between, is this a movement of man and Humanity, or is this a movement of God?

Even Saul struggles with that. As a student of Gamaliel there is no doubt that he heard about the inner happenings in the Sanhedrin. What happened that day? The apostles were set free. Oh, after they beat them. After they told them again, don't say anything more, they gave him a strong reprimand, they gave them, the sense that if you do this again, you're dead. But we'll let you go for now. Saul learning from Gamaliel heard. No doubt what his teacher had taught, everyone. and he himself had to make a decision such that when the apostles went out and started teaching again when the word continued to spread, He was there at the start of persecution of the church. He was there holding the coats as a witness as they stoned. Stephen.

And so it's no surprise that he made his choice. That this has got to be the work of man. Until he was walking with letter, in hand to go capture more Christians up in Damascus. And God spoke to him on the way in Jesus Christ said to him Saul Saul why are you persecuting me?

Have you ever wondered how much Saul had to think and process? How much Paul had to rework in his mind of his faith? After encountering the Risen Lord. I imagine part of that reworking was helped by thinking back to Gamaliel's comments.

If this is a man, it will go away. If this is of god, you may find yourself working against God. And you'll never be able to stop it.

Upon learning that this is of God. I imagine that is what gave him the strength to go forward into the world. Face persecution and hardship. Because long ago a teacher presented to him two choices. if it's a man, it'll come to nothing.

if it is of god, You won't be able to stop it and you might even find yourself working against God.

As a Church of Jesus Christ goes forward. We each have to decide among ourselves.

Is this something we just grew into? Is this is the product of our Social Development. Or is this really of God?

And if it is of god,

take care. Nothing will be able to get in your way. As you share Jesus. The love of God. Nothing. Let us pray.