Here’s the notes for my sermon Acts 5:17-42 “Indomitable Kingdom of God” preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville, IL. Audio here.
Acts 5:17-42 “The Indomitable Kingdom of God”
INTRO: Futility of trying to stop something that is unstoppable: trying to stop Earth from going round the sun.
-Some things are unstoppable from a human perspective. The big word for this is IDOMITABLE.
-NOTHING can stop or thwart God and His plans or his kingdomà INDOMITABLE=unstoppable
-In Acts we learn about God’s establishing of His kingdom of Earth through church as Christians preach Jesus
-NOTHING can thwart God’s plans, even suffering, persecution, or apathy.
*Because nothing can stop the advance of God’s kingdom of Earth, we ought to preach Jesus even if it means suffering.
CONTEXT:
-Jesus commissioned his people to be his witnesses and ascended to heaven.
-Holy Spirit has come and filled Christians, empowering them to preach the gospel
-As gospel is preached more and more people become Christians: God’s kingdom on Earth established & expands
-God blessing his people as they preach the gospel, and working in extraordinary ways through his apostles.
TODAY: We see apostles face persecution as they seek to proclaim Jesus.
-Will they keep preaching the gospel, even in the face of more intense persecution or even death?
-Will God’s kingdom continue to advance, even as religious authorities try to stop it?
-How will God help his people?
-Today, we see God powerfully bring deliverance for his people in some unexpected ways: 3 Unexpected Deliverers.
-Ultimately, to oppose the preaching of Christ is to oppose God’s kingdom, which is futile: indomitable kingdom!
-This gives us courage to preach Jesus, even if it means suffering.
Scene 1: The Arrest of the Apostles (17-21)
Context: Apostles are preaching the gospel, miracles & signs are happening, and more and more people are becoming Christians.
-Jewish Religious Leaders are Unhappy (17-18)
-Sinful root: “filled with jealousy”
-Persecution of apostles: (18): “they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.”
-They locked them up for the night.
QUESTION: Will this stop the advance of the gospel? And how will apostles get out of this?
-Unexpected Deliverer #1: An angel! (19-21)
-An angel brings them out of prison (19): 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out
-God sent his angel to deliver the apostles!
-Angels (and demons) are real, and they accomplish the tasks God has for them (Heb 1:14)
-2 mistakes to avoid: 1 put undue focus on them; 2 disbelieve them.
-God’s angels accomplish God’s work, and we can rejoice in God!
-The angel has an instruction for them (20): “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
-The apostles need to keep preaching, even if it looks futile or dangerous
–NOTE: description of preaching: speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
-This is evangelism: sharing about the wonderful LIFE that Jesus brings and offers!
-Knowing Christ is far better than all greatest dreams of suburbia and this world! And more real!
-The apostles obey (21) 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
-It is good to preach the gospel, even if that means we might suffer.
OBSERVE: God is committed to see his kingdom continue to expand as Christians preach the gospel.
-His kingdom is indomitable, and he can even use angels to help his people proclaim Jesus in the face of suffering.
-Angel: 2 Kings 19, King Hezekiah and threat of Assyrian army (Sennacherib), 185k die in the night by angel!
Nothing can stop the advance of God’s kingdom of Earth; God is able to help his people faithfully preach the gospel.
Scene 2: The Second Arrest of the Apostles (5:20b-26)
It is morning now and the priests are in for quite a surprise.
-The apostles are nowhere to be found! (20b-23)
-Miraculous: prison secularly locked and guards standing at the doors.
-The chief priests are perplexed (24)
-They do not know what make of this.
-The apostles are discovered (25)
-They’re back in the temple and teaching the people
-Apostles give us a model of faithful obedience to Jesus.
*APPLICATION: Moms, and dads, and singles, it is good and right to obey Jesus, even when its hard!
-Apostles are arrested a second time (26-27)
–NOTE: Unexpected Deliver #2: SINFUL ATTITUDE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS!
-Motivated by fear of man and cowardice (26b) and thus did not use force.
-God able to deliver his people by the sinful acts and attitudes of others! Gen 50:20; Acts 2:23
-Ten Boom sisters (Betsie and Corrie): giving thanks for fleas—saved by them!
Nothing can stop the advance of God’s kingdom of Earth; God is able to deliver his people through unexpected ways.
Scene 3: The Apostles Before the Religious Authorities (27b-41)
The apostles have been arraigned and are now being questioned by the religious leaders.
-Opening Statement from High Priest (27b-28) -CHARGE: We CHARGED you not to teaching int his name (ch 4), and you have not obeyed!
-FURTHER: Your intention is bring us harm “bring this man’s blood upon us”
-OBSERVE: Sinful, self-serving fears of the religious leaders.
*APPLICATION: Where do sinful, self-serving fears & motives show up in my life?
-Peter’s Response (29-32)
-It is more important that we obey God than you (29)
-True then, and now!
-Peter preaches Christ to the religious leaders! (30-32)
-Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation in heaven (30-31a)
-Repentance and forgiveness of sins, from Jesus! (31b)
-You can experience this today as well if you believe in Jesus!
-Apostles are witnesses to the gospel, and so is the Holy Spirit (32)
-Christians are witnesses of Jesus today too
-Holy Spirit has been given to those who obey God (32b)
–INFERENCE: Not religious leaders, but those with faith in Jesus have gift of H.S.
-2nd INFERENCE: Rejecting Jesus=disobeying God!
*APPLICATION: Jesus not optional, then or now. He is Messiah & only way to God!
-Religious Leaders Response: Murderous RAGE (33)
-They get very angry and want to kill the apostles
–Serious Situation: they do have a history of killing (Jesus) and apostles know this.
QUESTION: How will they get out of this? How will God deliver his people now?
-UNEXPECTED DELIVERER #3: Gamaliel! (34-39a)
-Gamaliel: Pharisee (in council with mostly Sadducees), well-known, respected (34a)
-Apostles put outside while he stands up to make his address (34b)
-Gamaliel’s Speech (35-39)
-Be careful about what you are about to do (35)
-Other religious leaders rose up, died, and movement came to nothing (36-37)
-Could be the same with these Christians, so leave them alone (38a)
–Key statement of caution (READ 38-39a)
–If it is of man it will fail.
–If it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—it is futile! Work is indomitable!
-Further: You might even be found opposing God!”
-LUKE wants us to hear this insight and see God’s kingdom this way.
-Chief Priests Listen to Gamaliel (39b-40)
-They “took his advice” (39b)
-Called the apostles in and “beat them” =Unjust bullying/beating. (Same happening today around world)
-Another charge to the apostle “not to speak in the name of Jesus”
-RELEASED! “they let them go”
OBSERVE: God delivered his people through unexpected deliverer (Gamaliel), which saved lives and allow them to keep preaching!
*3 UNEXPECTED DELIVERS: Angel, Sinful Motive of Persecutors, a Pharisee!
-God is committed to see his kingdom expand and will powerfully help his people as they preach his gospel.
*QUESTION: What now? Keep preaching? Or be quiet about Jesus?
–ANSWER: KEEP PREACHING EVEN IF THAT MEANS MORE SUFFERING V 41-42
-Surprising joy (41)
-Continued faithfulness (42)
-Everyday; house to house…did not cease
-Teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ!
Because nothing can stop the advance of God’s kingdom of Earth, we ought to preach Jesus even if it means suffering.
NON-CHRISTIAN: The kingdoms of this world will all fade away. The mini-kingdom of our lives will fade away
-There is a better kingdom and a better king to live for: Daniel 2
-Jesus is the king of kings: God the Son: He deserves your love and worship.
-As king, he died for your sins and offers forgiveness of sin: Come to Him in faith! Enter indomitable kingdom!
CHRISTIAN: Jesus has saved us from living for this world and kingdom of our making.
-He has kingdom work for us to do here, and that includes preaching the gospel.
-Don’t allow fear of suffering to stop you from preaching the gospel.
-The kingdom of God is indomitable!
Because nothing can stop the advance of God’s kingdom of Earth, we ought to preach Jesus even if it means suffering.
