Mission, persecution?

Message: In situations of persecution or difficulties, let’s lift God’s name.

Intro:

Dear brothers and sisters, so great to see you. So many things happned this week, Maybe let’s pray together now.

Dear Lord, we want to lift our worries and burden in front of you. The flood, lord may the rain calm, and help could be given to those who is needed. In Ulkriane, we saw everyday people dying, Lord have mercy. And lord, today give us holy spirit to listen to your words,so we know your will, and could become hands and feets of Jesus. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Yes Many things happen. And one Religious discrimination law that shelved. A few b/s asked me what it is about. This bill basically was set up when same-sex marriage was legalized, and religious organization started to worry their rights, especially say Christian schools might get sued. This bill took until this year to be passed, but because of all the oppoistion, especially cancelling 83(3) where schools cannot run through their ethos. It was too much concesssion, so at the end of dropped it.

This raised question about are we Australian Christian are being persecuted? The simple answer is no. While it is important to protect our religious freedom. We are not being persecuted. We have freedom to gather and worship, join the army, vote, be prime minister. Maybe , we should know those who are persecuted. In Open Doors - Afgantisdan and North Korea are the two most persecuted in the world. Actually two of our missionaries are exactly serving these areas, maybe indirectly. North Korean any time you are discovered, you are in a forced labour camp. It is equally life-threatening in Afghanistan, simply owning a bible, your family might kill you.

And so maybe, while we are nowhere persecuted, like those countries or these apostle, we might understand them and this passage a bit better. And today, while our voice may be the minority, or even verbally abuse, or margin, maybe this passage be our encouragement.

Background Story so far:

As we have said, acts 1:8 is the theme of the book. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” As we continue to move through the book of Acts, we see the fulfillment of this promise. Rev Leung talks about the holy Spirit comes upon the disciples , resulting in supernatural power leading to courageous, life-giving witness. Last week Pastor Philip talks about as this group shows courageous as they witness Jesus, they rely on Spirit, they become united. In anyway, signs and wonder accompanied the preaching of the world, and no one can deny that Godf was at work in a new way.

But as they establish, they fellowship, they witness, difficulties arises. First internal, as we see the laying of Anania and Sapahira to the church has serious consequence. God decisvely dealed with the sin, as a gospel without holiness is no gospel at all. But also, increasing opposition from the outside, especially from the religious establishment that has opposed the ministry of Jesus, and then crucified HIm, took the same hostile approach towards the apostles. “John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. These words were beginning to be fulfilled.

And so our passage comes right after another powerful show of spiritual power Acts 5:12-15 “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. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 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.” We will see three places that these disciples go, and each one raised a great question for us? And disciples response give us some principals to follow.

In Prison (17-26)

And so, the price they had to pay for this spiritual power. And the most important one here is jealously. They filled with jealousy they arrested them. See this is an esclation of persecution, before it was only Peter and John, now it is all the apostles, before it is just threaten them with words, this time round they want to kill them all. The thing is this Christian movement directly threatens their whole Jewish religion existence. They are preaching this person who was just hanged by them is actually the Messiah and was restore Israel and even the entire world. They are preaching that temple is no longer as anyone who have faith in Jesus can have forgiveness and meditation of God. They are preaching the scraficial system is no more as the ultimate scrafice is in Jesus. They cannot see pass that God may be doing a new thing. They did not love these apostles. Their faith in God does not critize GOd for when his Spirit comes. And so what we see he is a conintue carnal counter power, the power of politics and sword. Their emotional opposition, their jealously, intimation turn into physical and legal opposition. They go from commanding them not to speak, to putting them in prison publicaly withto shame them and set up a very tough prison to stop their movement. And this perseuction, emotional, legal, physical reaches a climax in the next chapter, when Stpehen is stoned to death.

But what happened? God is still working through all these progression, and this time by miraclsous interavtion. An angel came to release them at night, and told them to continue preaching this life. At that time they still don’t have a name for the gospel, Christians, just this life. And see how the apostles do, after this miracolus deliverance, they straighly go back to the task at hand, to witness this life. The miracle is so impressive, that the leaders did not know they left, and just when they thought how can it be? Have to escaped? And actually they were just nearby, in the temple preaching. But this whole episode raises one question?

Questions: Why sometimes no miraculous deliverance? We see all this miracle happening in Acts? Why is God not acting now with some many sufferings? The NSW Flood, the war in Ulkriane? But even Acts does not happen all the time, we see very soon Stephen was stoned, Jacob was killed by Herrod. In a way it’s God’s sovereignty, it is his will that these deliverances come, according to his free will. But more importantly, the disciples never forgot about this life, this life that transformed by Jesus Christ does not only depend a miraculous deliverance. When miracle comes like this one, we could give life, we could speak all the words of this life, we could give powerful witness. But if you are not delivered, angel does not open that door, we may simply live Jesus life. In all the suffering and disappointment , God is still with us , giving us strength to sustain us everyday. And in some way, some of this suffering is good for us, but some we have to acknowledge we don’t know why. But we know also at the end our all things turned for the good for those who trust in God, and that we would always have a resurrection life.

Apply:

When I reflect upon this church. I see a lot of miracles happen. People beliving in God, people getting healed, people experience God’s guidance in their life in significant ways, we praise God with that. And at these times we give life. but there are times that we pray and pray, sometimes, it is about holding to our faith, asking God to beside me. And so how is our faith, how is our religion. Is it based on miracle deliverances all the time, and when God does not deliver us, we complaint to him. Or we will be like the freiends of Daniel, when they enter the fire furnance as they obey God, they say Daniel 3:17-18“If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Will our religion be always triumphist only about God’s miracle deliverance, or do how we share struggles, and a dark valleys? So in miracles let’s give life, and in suffering live life. And this turns us to the next scene, in front of the Sendrian as the apsotles are dragged back into this opposition.

Front of Sendrian (27-33)

是古代以色列由71位猶太長老組成的立法議會和最高法院。這個議會包括一名大法官、一名副大法官和其他69名成員。在開會時這其他69名議員坐成半圓形。猶太公會擁有其它猶太法庭所沒有的權利，比如它可以審判國王、擴張聖殿和耶路撒冷的邊界，它也是最終規定任何法律問題的部門。個公議會即有法庭的作用，也有管理或者政治作用。隨外國統治君主留給當地政府的權力以及當地君主的權力大小, 這個公議會的權利大小也不斷變化。

IN some way, it acts as a court and government at that stage. And I guess if you have been called into this, you would be scared. In front of these people who has power to prision you, to threaten you, or even kill you. But no, we see what the apostles do, they whole aim is witness Jesus, to preach gospel, even to his enemies, and transform the Jews tradition. And in doing so, Peter the leader of the group raised up, and respond to the Senhadrian’s charge. And in doing so, gave us the basics of the gospel, the core of our belief.

First, he respond to him by saying yes I should obey God and not you, when you threaten us not to talk about the gospel, that is direct opposition against Jesus has commanded us, and what angel just told us. No, we will not listen to you. Then secondly, he again directly affirms the accusation, by putting Jesus front and center, Acts 5:30-32 “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him 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 to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

God of our fathers, talkling that Christinality, what we believe is a common God, but that Christinality is the fulfillment of Judaism, and again directly accuses this Sanherdian, this people are the prime responsibility of Jesus death. But Jesus not only died, and resurrected, he is now ascended and exalted to God’s right hand. So everybody who obeys him, repents towards him, will be given forgiveness of sins. Isn’t that the basic of gospel. Jesus died, resurrected and exalted, we repente obey for our forgiveness of sin. These Jewish leadersneeded to heed the witness of the aposolic preaching about Jesus and respond to the witness of the HOly Spirit. While they thought they are judging these apostles, these apostles in name of Jesus is judging them. And of course it made them furious, so furious that they wanted to kill all 12 apostles. And so this leads to our second quesiton?

Questions: How do we deal with authorities now?

This again is a large topic and it is quite difficult so I would just provide principals. A lot of people look at Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” It seems it give us a license to disobey government or authority. But as we often do theology, we need to look at the whole bible for answers. As I have preached before in Matthew 22:21 “They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”” In a way the Bible does command us to be subject to go verning authorities. Peter himself says 1 Peter 2:13-14 “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” This teaching is given more detail in Romans and we should therefore submit to them. He specifically mentiosn the giving of taxes, respect and honour. But by the time of Revelation, the state has become hostile to God, so John expresses a different atittude toward the state. In a way the GOd-oridnaed purpose of the authorities is to promote good and punish evil. And when it doesn’t do it, Stott said civil disobiedence is possible, just as the same Peter siad here.

And so any disobeidence needs to be done with many prayer, inside a community, and more guidelines are from Attwood:

All democratic and constitutional means exhausted

Should be open and public.

Should strongly prefer non-violent methods, some would say it must insist

Should display good knowledge of the law, and full respect fort it

Should be appropriate to the cause

should be specific and realistic end in view.

In Spite of these cautions we must remember there will probably be disagreement within the church about precise action. The classical example of plot against HItler. Many thought it was a heroric attempt, while some consider it opposed of the Bible. Another would be smuggling the Bible. support three-self church. The Bible leaves room among Christians on issues, and could use both groups of people for his glory. Having siad that, we must also say tha tin the face of blantant injustice and oppression we cannot acquiesce to an attitude of silence.

Temple and House (34-42)

And the last scene is in temple and house. God used a particular man in his position to saved the 12 apostes. This person is a Phraisee who is called the spiritual fathers of modern Judaism. The word is derived by the verb “divide”, and they see themselves as the holy ones because they extreme adhreant to the law to all aspects of life and to prepare people in front of the Messiah. Gamalieh in particular is though t to be Hillel’s successor in the headership of his school . He was so highly esteem thatMisnah declare Since Rabban Gamaliel the elder died there has been no more reverence for the law; and purity and abstinence died out at the same time. Gamalieh said Acts 5:38-39 “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; 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,” He was saying if the momvenet is of God, it cannot be overpowered, attempts to silence the movement is equivalent of resisting God. To some extent, he was right, that Acts is a story about God’s activity and any persecution would not stop it, in particular seen in the stoning of Stephen.In a way the mission of the Holy SPirrit is unstoppable and those who oppose does indeed fight against God. But on the other hand, Gamalieh’s speech is closer to fatalism. It does not highlight the importance of truth, especially to truely examine the claims of the fulfilment of prophecy and the signs and wonders. And in a way, doesn’t God invite us into to respond to the his participation in history. And for some reason, people listened to him, but still flogs the apostles but releases them.

And then comes the climax to the whole section that began with a description in the Jerusalem church Acts 5:41-42 “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” The opposite reaction to flogging, to persecution, to marginalization. They rejoice. After Prison, after shenadrian, still they rejoice, and they go to where temple and housses, like todays sunday serivces and life groups, and the first time in the bible, evangelim, to tell people the good news

Questions: It bring us How do we deal with persecution and gospel?

And so yeah, rejoice. And this is one of my favourite passage recently, as sometimes I struggle with my life, sometimes feeling marginization. Sometimes feeling not belong, not appreicated, encountering difficulty, 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Jesus himself said, Matt 5:11 ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” and Romans 5:3 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,” Because of all this, they could look at all persecution, all difficulties so light, because Jesus name is more beautiful, more important than anything that is thrown at them. And so for religious discrmination bill. While we cotinue fight for religious freedom, as we believe it is a public good for society, and that it provides a great platform for witnessing Christ, at of Baptist tradition, the autonomy of church, religious freedom is important so the gospel could hold truthfully. We will not for one second rely on government, think that we need this bill for the church to survive, for the gospel to be spread. If one day we get marginalized, we would rejoice.

Apply:

I think this passage really strike me, really a wake up call for our church. We live in a very peaceful country, with high freedom in practising religion. But in our peaceful life, so easy we could slowly forget the joy in Christ. And it doesn’t take a persecution, but just a pendemic, and caused us to no l onger speak and teach “all the words of this life.” In the name of lockdown and distancing, we actually distancing God, distancing his resurrection life. When we are in such a state, the world does not see the glory of men and women fully alive. Our disobedience has cut us off from the power of Holy Spirit. THere is no joy and no buoyance. At such times we need to set free ad know again the gospel and liberty God has given to his children. When we take our stand for him, speaking the message of life, obeying him rather than men, we will feel the waves, but we will also feel his pleasure. And lets

The Message of Acts (c. The Conclusion (5:40–42))

The devil has never given up the attempt to destroy the church by force. Under Nero (AD 54–68) Christians were imprisoned and executed, including probably Paul and Peter. Domitian (AD 81–96) oppressed Christians who refused to pay him the divine honours he demanded; under him John was exiled to Patmos. Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–180), believing that Christianity was dangerous and immoral, turned a blind eye to severe local outbreaks of mob violence. Then in the third century what had so far been sporadic became systematic. Diocletian (AD 284–305). He issued four edicts which were intended to stamp out Christianity altogether. He ordered churches to be burned, Scriptures to be confiscated, clergy to be tortured, and Christian civil servants to be deprived of their citizenship and, if stubbornly unrepentant, executed. Still today, especially in some Marxist, Hindu and Moslem countries, the church is often harassed. But we need not fear for its survival. Tertullian, addressing the rulers of the Roman Empire, cried out: ‘Kill us, torture us, condemn us, grind us to dust.… The more you mow us down, the more we grow; the seed is the blood of Christians.’ Persecution will refine the church, but not destroy it. If it leads to prayer and praise, to an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God and of solidarity with Christ in his sufferings, then—however painful—it may even be welcome.