1 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:16,320 Book of Acts, chapter 5, please. Verse 12 to the end of the 2 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,440 chapter, we'll do this morning. And the title of this morning is 3 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:27,560 Power Comes through Obedience. How often we have so many 4 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,640 Christians struggling in their marriages, struggling in their 5 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,920 relationships with family members, with children. 6 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,520 And we take another step back because they're they're 7 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,600 struggling in their relationship with God. 8 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,880 That's the flow on you. Remember back in the book of 9 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:53,680 Acts chapter 4, the disciples in the church had prayed for 10 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:58,080 boldness. They prayed for confidence after 11 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:03,800 Peter and John had been arrested and forbidden to speak Jesus 12 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:05,560 name. Acts 429. 13 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,200 Now Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your 14 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:15,040 servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word. 15 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,400 Well, God answered that prayer. You know, every Wednesday we 16 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,080 gather and God answers prayer. He's continuing to answer 17 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,200 prayer. If you're looking for miracles, 18 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,720 I encourage you to come and be part of the cause for a miracle. 19 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,120 Join us Wednesday. We need some at the moment. 20 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,800 We have some people who are critically I'll just months to 21 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:43,160 live and we need miracles. God answered their prayer. 22 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:48,320 God will answer your prayer. Now a quick snapshot of where 23 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,400 we're going to go. We'll see that people were 24 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,400 gathering daily now at the temple at a place called 25 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,640 Solomon's Porch. It's kind of like a pagola on 26 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,880 the east side of the temple there the church was gathering. 27 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,400 Now they didn't have a building and they were still going to the 28 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,720 temple. And there the apostles would go 29 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,840 and they would teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 30 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,760 What is the gospel? The wonder of the resurrection 31 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,920 of Jesus. Jesus is alive, that Jesus had 32 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:26,280 come and they were preaching the gospel that through his death 33 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:32,000 and resurrection, repentance now is available to all sinners. 34 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,480 You can receive the forgiveness of sins. 35 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:42,360 If you were here today and you carry on a load, you have things 36 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:50,560 that you go Keith, they're so bad what I did, I'm ashamed. 37 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:55,760 And you wonder. You can think they're 38 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:57,240 unforgivable. No, they're not. 39 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,360 You can be forgiven of all the power of the blood of Christ 40 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:10,560 removes all sin, all sin. Thankful. 41 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:17,920 I'm thankful for that. Rumours began to grow. 42 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:24,080 Holy Spirit was moving through the church that even if Peter 43 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:29,720 walked past his shadow, just the shadow passing over you would 44 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:35,800 bring healing. The religious leaders were 45 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,040 worried, especially the Sadducees. 46 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:44,560 They were angry why? They are again losing control of 47 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,880 the people. The people were being drawn to 48 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,600 the church, to the teaching of the apostles. 49 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,280 And so they demanded bring the apostles before us. 50 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,160 Yet we see God will move supernaturally. 51 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:08,040 This time it's a gaolbreak. And then we'll see that a famous 52 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:13,040 rabbi, the one who actually had a student called Saul who would 53 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:18,560 become Paul, who taught this, saw all that he knew about the 54 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:25,080 word of God. Gamaliel, he'll stand and he'll 55 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,320 tell the religious leaders, hey, hey, you guys, just hold off for 56 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,880 a second. Time will tell if God's in this 57 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,480 stuff what these guys are doing. After all. 58 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:41,040 He'll remind them he went about the death of Jesus and that 59 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,560 didn't, that failed, didn't it? It failed to destroy his 60 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,280 following. Actually, after his death, it 61 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:52,760 grew. And lastly, we'll see the 62 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,840 disciples after all this persecution. 63 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,880 We'll see him rejoicing. But the key passage, the very 64 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,920 bull's eye of today's text in our study this morning is Acts 65 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:12,760 529, which we'll get to it says, But Peter and the other apostles 66 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,920 answered when they were asked about why they're doing what 67 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:23,520 they're doing and disobeying. They said we ought to obey God 68 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:29,480 rather than men. We ought to obey God rather than 69 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,280 men. You should memorise that verse 70 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,000 pretty easy. We ought to obey God rather than 71 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,320 men. Get your teenagers when they 72 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,400 come to you with questions about I want to go to this party, I 73 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,480 want to be involved in that, I want to go have that 74 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:48,200 relationship. We ought to obey God rather than 75 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,280 men. So let's look at verse 12. 76 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:57,880 Through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders 77 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:03,200 were done among the people, and they noticed. 78 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:11,280 We've seen this about the church were all with 1 accord in 79 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:15,720 Solomon's porch. They gathered there, yet none of 80 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:23,600 the rest People outside the church dared join them, but the 81 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,640 people esteemed them highly. They'd heard God had taken out 82 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,800 two people, Ananias and Sapphira. 83 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,680 I thought, well, just be cautious about what you get 84 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,560 joining into. There was a reverence and an oar 85 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:48,000 amongst this group. Through the hands of the 86 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,960 apostles, many signs and wonders were occurring. 87 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,720 The church was continuing to grow. 88 00:06:56,280 --> 00:07:01,480 But notice, and I want to remind you again in the text, it grew 89 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:08,080 only with new believers. When Israel did the exodus out 90 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:13,080 of Egypt, they had the Israelites going out and there 91 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,600 was another group called mixed multitude. 92 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:22,240 Just follow us on. I'll go with this. 93 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:29,200 I'll see where they're going. The church was growing, but it 94 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,920 only grew with new believers. No onlookers. 95 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:35,680 No, I'll go and check this. Just. 96 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:40,720 Yeah, check it out. No, no casual spiritual people 97 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,040 while I'm into. I'm just a spiritual person. 98 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,440 I'm just along to see what you what you're into. 99 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:53,040 No, only truly saved people join the church. 100 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,520 That's fascinating. No hypocrite joined. 101 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:04,120 Why? You could be killed no 102 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,160 unbeliever dared join them while I just go along. 103 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,680 I like I like the coffee that they have. 104 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,480 Plus you know it's just it's nice place to drop the kids off 105 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:19,200 babysitting. None of that it says verse 14 106 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,000 and believers notice underline that it says and believers were 107 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:31,000 increasingly added not just a crowd came. 108 00:08:32,039 --> 00:08:38,120 Believers were increasingly added to the Lord multitudes of 109 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:42,360 men and women so that they brought the sick out into the 110 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:47,360 streets and laid them on beds and couches that at least the 111 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:52,680 shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 112 00:08:52,680 --> 00:08:56,840 Note this. It doesn't exactly say that they 113 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,680 were healed by this. Luke just puts that in there and 114 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:04,120 says this is what was going on, so we don't know. 115 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,080 Also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to 116 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:14,200 Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by 117 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,880 unclean spirits. There's a differentiation there. 118 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:22,520 And notice what it says. And they were all healed. 119 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,120 Last time I read that Jesus was doing it, wasn't it? 120 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,640 Notice they were all healed. It wasn't all. 121 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,720 That's too tough a job. Wow, can't do that, you know. 122 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,400 Oh, he's got that. Oh wow. 123 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,680 Does he have a sore back or a sore leg? 124 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:38,560 Headache. We do. 125 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:45,200 Headaches and sore legs. Rumours grew, does not say. 126 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:49,760 As I said, either which way that the shadow of Peter healed them 127 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,400 or not. That's not the point. 128 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:57,320 Part of the Eastern culture at at that time and belief was that 129 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:02,360 the shadow of a man, whether they be good or evil, if it 130 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:07,840 passed over, you could influence supposedly on your life, good 131 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:11,600 man, good impact, bad man, bad impact. 132 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:16,000 But what was going on here, and that's what Luke is getting at, 133 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:23,800 is people were sensing the power of God moving in the apostles 134 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:28,480 and in the church earlier in the chapter. 135 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,480 Remember, God had purified the church. 136 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,760 How? With the judgement of Ananias 137 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:40,000 and his wife Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit. 138 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:47,120 They lied to God and said in Acts chapter 4 both in verse 5 139 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,760 and verse 11. It said so great fear came upon 140 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,200 the church. We need that you go what we want 141 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:59,560 people to drop dead in church. No, we want that great fear, 142 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:05,760 reverence or to be in our church, Christchurch. 143 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:13,360 And so with what God's judgement had done, purity was in the 144 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,560 church. There was no hypocrites. 145 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,600 I said well hey, I'm like on there, only true believers. 146 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:26,200 And so with purity comes the power of God being able to be 147 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,600 released freely through his church. 148 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,000 There was purity. Why? 149 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,360 Because there was great fear. People didn't didn't just hang 150 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:38,760 out. You know, people today, they'll 151 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,640 they'll live together, they'll have improper relationships. 152 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,680 They'll be involved in things they shouldn't be doing things 153 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:48,520 that they shouldn't be, and they'll go to church. 154 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:52,960 No big deal. That's all right. 155 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,880 God all forgive me. Eventually back then you didn't 156 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,560 why? Thought you might die. 157 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,680 And so a purity was impacting the church. 158 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,200 There was great fear. No one lied in the early church. 159 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,560 Didn't want Peter coming up and going. 160 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,240 You lying. Well, no. 161 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:23,200 Well, this resulted in powerful blessing. 162 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:31,120 There was nothing blocking or holding back God's healing power 163 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:38,760 being released through the faithful apostles, it said those 164 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:43,120 who were healed and loot differentiates between physical 165 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:47,520 and spiritual, he said. Bodily and physical ailments 166 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,640 were healed, but also those who were possessed. 167 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:59,840 Spiritual people who had anguish spiritually possessed, they had 168 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,200 the spirits cast out of them and they were healed. 169 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:08,920 The question I have as we get to this point is have we as 170 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:16,320 Christchurch today lost the purity that we see here in the 171 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:23,400 early church rhetorical? Have we lost as a result then 172 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:29,240 the power of God to be able to be released in his church 173 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:38,480 through us because of that? So for the church, pure is the 174 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:43,520 church, powerful, the Spirit filled church. 175 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,680 Remember, this is all flowing on from Pentecost. 176 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,960 Jesus has ascended, He's at the right hand of the Father. 177 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:54,720 The Holy Spirit has come, filled all the disciples. 178 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,440 Then Peter preaches and the Holy Spirit fills the 3000. 179 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:04,520 Then the holy and Peter preaches again fills another 2000 That 180 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,400 says they're all filled with the Spirit. 181 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,760 A spirit filled church is a powerful church, but it's the 182 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,520 church pure. You see, when we lose our 183 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:25,000 purity, we lose our power. Example, husbands, if you're not 184 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:30,800 treating your wife correctly, the Bible says your prayers 185 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,640 won't be answered. Says that, Peter, if you're 186 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:40,600 treating her incorrectly, you can pray as much as you like. 187 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,200 God's not going to listen to you. 188 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:52,320 And so anything that separates us from speaking to God blocks 189 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,760 the power of God working through us. 190 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:00,440 But people here were coming to the church filled with hope, 191 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,840 seeking God. You know, when you come to 192 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,360 church, when you come to a prayer meeting, how do you come? 193 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,280 You come thinking that God's going to answer our I do. 194 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,720 I believe that when we pray, God hears us and God answers prayer. 195 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,440 I believe in miracles. We held one just a moment ago 196 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,000 and they came filled with hope seeking God. 197 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,640 It's kind of like the the, the lady who for 12 years had the 198 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,960 issue of blood. She said if I could just touch 199 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,400 the, the, the, the edge, the, the, the little things that hang 200 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:42,680 off Jesus prayer, if I can just touch that, I'd be done. 201 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,560 She did. There's this point of 202 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,760 connection. People wanted this point of 203 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,840 connection. And so they brought the sick 204 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,320 unashamedly. They didn't bring him going. 205 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:57,840 Oh, here's hope and you always take him. 206 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,880 No, they brought them to get healed and saved. 207 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,000 It says all were healed verse 16. 208 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:13,520 But we all know as we read that the first few verses that when 209 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:23,000 God moves, who else moves Satan, Satan moves to it says verse 17. 210 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,080 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him, 211 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,560 which is the sect of the Sadducees, didn't believe in 212 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,360 angels, didn't believe in the resurrection, didn't believe in 213 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:37,080 the life after death. And they were filled with 214 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:43,160 indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in 215 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,560 the common prison. So all the apostles, not just 216 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,720 Peter and John, they're all locked up now. 217 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,160 Wow. So the leadership of the church 218 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:56,120 is locked up. So the apostles are arrested and 219 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:57,840 gaoled yet again. Second time. 220 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:06,200 But this time the Lord sent an Angel and freed them. 221 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,960 Why did the Angel free them? So the apostles could take a 222 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,480 break. Glad we're out of there. 223 00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:19,040 Head for the hills. OK, where's the donkeys? 224 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,760 Let's get out of here. Let's get out of Jerusalem. 225 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:27,040 Hide. Have a sabbatical. 226 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,640 Oh, man, I've been ministering and ministering. 227 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,640 Yeah, man, since the day of Pentecost. 228 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:32,840 Haven't had haven't had a spell to break. 229 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:37,200 Need a sabbatical or so that they can gather together and go. 230 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,840 OK, you know what? Let's negotiate some terms. 231 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:45,440 Let's come to a compromise with the religious leaders. 232 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,880 Let's seek to do things. Maybe we can change what we're 233 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:54,840 doing. No, because they are commanded, 234 00:17:55,400 --> 00:18:01,320 you'll note on their release from gaol by the Angel of the 235 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:07,680 Lord, not to take a break, but to take up from where they'd 236 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:12,160 left off and to continue. Verse 19. 237 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,240 But at night an Angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, 238 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,920 brought them out and said what? Have a spell? 239 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,840 Oh, man, no. Go stand in the temple. 240 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:31,440 Speak to the people all the words of this life. 241 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,680 Note that, you know, we, we live in a world of I got to be 242 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:41,440 careful. There are not many people with 243 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:45,280 backbones around now, are they? Is that OK? 244 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:53,760 If I say that, I mean it's like everyone is woe is me. 245 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,760 Glad we don't have a depression. People that live through 246 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:03,120 depression, My goodness. Anyway, that's another story. 247 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:12,000 But you see here the Christians, the believers, they went weak. 248 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,000 They didn't quit. Go stand in the temple, speak to 249 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,240 the people all the words of this life, the life, this life, What 250 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:21,680 life? What do you mean? 251 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,960 This life, the life of the gospel of Jesus Christ? 252 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,440 What it's like being a follower, a disciple of Jesus. 253 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,440 What's happened? The new life each of the 254 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,120 disciples now live. We used to be fishermen. 255 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:40,080 Now we're fishers of men. We pray for people, people 256 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,480 delivered. Now we speak of Jesus. 257 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,680 We saw him dead. We saw him resurrected. 258 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:53,840 We saw him ascend. This new life was 180° in 259 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:57,560 direction from where they were before. 260 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:03,160 Now as they served him, you're saved. 261 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:08,240 Remember to what you are saved to serve. 262 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,920 And God was blessing and using them. 263 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:15,920 That was the life though, to speak. 264 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:22,160 This life and all that it promises, that very same life, 265 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:28,640 is now available to each and every one of us. 266 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:33,040 February 2026. Here in secret Harbour. 267 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:41,440 The same to you and to I, to those who will walk in the 268 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,240 footsteps of the Apostles. And do what? 269 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,120 Surrender our old life to Christ? 270 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:56,320 In two Corinthians 517, the very first verse I put to memory, it 271 00:20:56,320 --> 00:21:06,160 says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, and I love this, he is a 272 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,960 new creation. It's the answer to the devil. 273 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,720 When the devil says you're not a Christian, you're kidding me. 274 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,040 Everyone else in church is in a is a Christian. 275 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,680 You, you, you're, you're a hypocrite. 276 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:19,360 You're a joke. No, no, no. 277 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:26,280 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 278 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:32,640 Old things have passed away. It's my old life, my old 279 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,520 appetite. It's my old direction, What I 280 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:38,080 how I used to live. Behold all things. 281 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,920 Now, because I've turned from serving myself to serving the 282 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,600 Lord, all things have become you. 283 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,400 You. We no longer look at life the 284 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,320 way we used to. Because before Christ, you're 285 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,160 just selfish Sam, and selfish selling. 286 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,640 We really are. We're just full of ourselves. 287 00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:03,480 It's all about ourselves. That's why the world is so 288 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:08,560 angry, so upset because you're in the way, in the shopping 289 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:13,200 lane, on the road, wherever they are, you, you, you, you're 290 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,880 blocking the line. You're in their own because it's 291 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,920 the world's got the world revolves around me now. 292 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:24,720 But when you become a believer, the the world revolves around 293 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:29,240 Christ. We no longer look at life the 294 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:33,000 way we used to. We have changed. 295 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,080 We're different, we're a different person. 296 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:42,200 Yes, we look the same on the outside, but our appetites, our 297 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:46,960 passions, where we spend our money, where we spend our time, 298 00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:54,080 the way we speak, what we read, how we find enjoyment, it's 299 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:58,120 changed. And we see all those who we 300 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:03,680 didn't care about at all. Now, those who don't know 301 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:10,520 Christ, we see them as sinners lost, but we see them as people 302 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:13,800 who for whom Christ died. We have actually a passion for 303 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,640 them. We are our brother's keeper. 304 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,080 We're not like Cain. Am I my brother's keeper? 305 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:31,040 We're the Good Samaritan now. We care because we know Christ 306 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:35,280 loves that person. We know he died for each one of 307 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,920 them. We see each one of those people 308 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:43,200 that are lost as and because we see how they live. 309 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:48,440 They live as lost sheep and they have no shepherd. 310 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:53,480 They have no protection, no one calling them names, no one 311 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,200 comforting them, no one guiding them. 312 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,920 They're lost sheep and the world is full of wolves. 313 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:09,200 Wolves speaking to people the words of this life, the Angel of 314 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:16,200 the Lord told the disciples was of greater importance to God 315 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,920 than the apostles. Individual liberty to give them 316 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:22,160 freedom. Oh, you're out now. 317 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:27,320 Way, way you go, you're free. No, they were free to do what? 318 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,680 To go. Note that wasn't free to go and 319 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,480 please themselves. An Angel of the Lord was sent. 320 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:37,800 Why? So they could go to the temple, 321 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:40,560 otherwise they'd still be in gaol. 322 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,320 This is the reason God sent an Angel to free them. 323 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:51,000 You see, we see the amazing powerful obedience of the people 324 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,280 of the apostles to the Angel of the Lord's command. 325 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:56,760 So here they are. They've been locked up all 326 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:58,640 night. They're released. 327 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:03,400 So with that, without sleep, without food, without 328 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:08,760 hesitation, at Daybreak the apostles re enter the temple 329 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:12,360 court and begin teaching once again. 330 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,080 They pick up from where they left off. 331 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:19,480 It's like the apostle Paul when he was stoned and they said he's 332 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:21,160 dead. They dragged him out. 333 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,800 Next minute he's revived, he's back. 334 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,400 He's got scars and bits of blood hanging off him and skin. 335 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,400 And he goes straight back into the city and says, now where was 336 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:36,120 I? That's the Christian of the 337 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:39,360 Bible. Is that the Christian of the 338 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:44,400 modern church? In the meantime, the religious 339 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,440 leaders, the Council of Jerusalem had sent a messenger 340 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,080 to the prison. Hey, bring the prisoners. 341 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:55,800 Yeah, bring them out. God was teaching His Saints that 342 00:25:55,800 --> 00:26:00,880 He can deliver them and us anytime He so desires. 343 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:06,520 This was also to encourage the disciples that as they were 344 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,280 delivered, so they were also divinely commissioned. 345 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,400 Notice. Go stand in the temple, speak to 346 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,480 the people all the words of this life didn't say go home, be with 347 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:21,520 your families, go, go back to fishing, go and have a spell, go 348 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,120 to galley, have a bit of a break. 349 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:27,680 No. Note that when God divinely 350 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:32,440 moves in your life, when he comes through, you've been 351 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,800 praying. We've had situations where 352 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,080 you've gathered and you've called. 353 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,520 Well, Keith, we've got a desperate situation and we've 354 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,320 prayed. And God has answered your 355 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,920 prayers, hasn't He? And he's come through. 356 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,040 So God delivers you. You know why He delivers you? 357 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:57,880 Not to get you out of gaol. He delivers you to serve Him, to 358 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,800 turn your whole life over to Him. 359 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,120 You can be the one leper out of the 10 that were healed, who 360 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:10,320 after Jesus healed the 10, he returned and gave thanks to the 361 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,960 Lord. You can be like the demon 362 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:18,520 possessed man of Godera who lived naked, cutting himself, 363 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:23,000 breaking chains, howling at night, living in the cemetery, 364 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:28,760 who after Jesus delivered him was seated, clothed and in his 365 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:32,120 right mind. Then begged Jesus, what? 366 00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:35,800 Oh man, I mean living in the cemetery for ages, can you find 367 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,400 me a great place where I can go and relax and oh man, I, I man, 368 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,880 I've lived torridly. No, he says, I want to follow 369 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:46,560 you. He begged Jesus, can I come with 370 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:48,480 you? That's why he was delivered. 371 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:53,960 Luke 838. Here's the deal. 372 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:59,160 When God answers your prayer, when He delivers you, when he 373 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:05,240 sets you free, hold your ground. Don't take a break. 374 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,720 They were told to deliver the entire message of the new life 375 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,080 in Christ, even in the midst of persecution. 376 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:23,240 Parents to you today, you live in a complex world where the 377 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,960 world just wants to hunt down your teenagers. 378 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,160 It wants to turn them into drug addicts. 379 00:28:28,360 --> 00:28:32,080 It wants to change and bring confusion about their identity, 380 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:33,800 who they are. It wants to tell them that 381 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:35,800 they're unloved. It wants to tell them that mum 382 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:39,000 and dad don't care about them. It wants to say that the only 383 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,440 thing that's a place to go to is in the room, on the computer or 384 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,920 on their phone, because no one else understands. 385 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:51,000 And AOI is now developing this whole new world where you can go 386 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,640 like Alice in Wonderland and you can be there safe. 387 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:04,200 No, parents don't stop godly parenting. 388 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,120 You know when it stops? When you're dead? 389 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,880 Doesn't matter how old your children are. 390 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,800 It stops when you've breathed your last. 391 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:20,480 You're a godly parent until you breathe your last breath. 392 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:27,000 Wives, husbands, you're married to someone that's not saved. 393 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:32,920 Don't quit. Continue to love them. 394 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:37,400 See them as the one that Christ died for, the one that's lost, 395 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:42,520 that is without a shepherd. Love them like you've never been 396 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:48,840 able to love them before. Saint Irena said the glory of 397 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:55,440 God is a man fully alive. A man fully alive is someone who 398 00:29:55,440 --> 00:30:00,080 serves the Lord. You see, when we become alive in 399 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:04,360 Christ, God is wonderfully glorified in your life. 400 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,600 John chapter one verse 4 Speaking of Jesus. 401 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:13,000 In him was life and the life was the light of men. 402 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,240 Verse 21 And when they heard that they entered the temple 403 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:21,560 early in the morning, notice the obedience of the disciples and 404 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:24,480 oh wow, Gee, can't we just have have a coffee? 405 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:30,920 At least they entered the temple when early in the morning, 406 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:37,040 daylight and taut. Then he can go in there and tell 407 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:38,600 him. Oh, we've got some stories to 408 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:42,040 tell you guys. Oh, man, let me tell Peter. 409 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:44,160 You tell yours. Then I'll tell my story. 410 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:46,880 No, no, no, we're not interested in your story. 411 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,200 They were told to tell the life, the gospel, the words that 412 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,080 change. But the high priest and those 413 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:58,240 with him came and called the council, together with all the 414 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,320 elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the purse to 415 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:05,800 the prison to have them brought. So whilst the enemy, the 416 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:09,280 religious council of the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, 417 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:12,960 Pharisees with them as well, we're just getting out of bed. 418 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:17,560 Christ ambassadors, his disciples, his apostles were 419 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:21,000 already at the temple, at work teaching. 420 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:26,120 Read a great quote the other day by fellow pastor Washer is his 421 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:27,360 name. And he's Speaking of another 422 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,720 fellow who's with him who memorised, has memorised the 423 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:35,120 Bible and, you know, massive page passages of the whole 424 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,600 books. He said, oh man, you must have 425 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,080 a, a, a a what do you call it? A photographic memory? 426 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaking of that, yeah, I, I, no, he said, I just work harder 427 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,840 than you do. Wow, that put me in my place, 428 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,920 isn't it? That's the truth. 429 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:54,240 Oh, he's got a photographic memory. 430 00:31:54,240 --> 00:32:00,080 No, thought the athlete, you know you, I said to a member 431 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,760 saying once to one of the best athletes the Fremantle Football 432 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:04,800 Club ever had. I said, yeah, but you're 433 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,080 genetics. He says, hey, don't talk about 434 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,120 genetics. I work harder than anybody else. 435 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:12,480 I train harder than anybody else. 436 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:22,160 And so while the council was just getting out of bed, the 437 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,240 apostles were already at the temple, at work, teaching. 438 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:30,160 Every Wednesday evening here at 7 O clock here at the Chapel, a 439 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:33,480 group of faithful Saints are gathered here and they're at 440 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:37,960 work praying, interceding for the rest of the church, calling 441 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:41,080 on God for miracles, for those in desperate need. 442 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,800 And our nation, as the rest of the world goes about their 443 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:49,000 business, They're working. Verse 22 But when the officers 444 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:52,080 came, they came to the prison, didn't find them in the prison. 445 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,400 They returned and reported saying here what they found. 446 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:00,080 Indeed, we found the prison shut securely. 447 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:04,120 Doors were shut, locked. The guards were still, The 448 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:05,960 guards were still standing at the front. 449 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,600 But when we opened the doors, there's no one in the gaol. 450 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:13,920 Imagine the guards going, You're an idiot, didn't you? 451 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:15,240 What happened? Did you see some? 452 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:19,960 I didn't see someone. Now, when the high priest, the 453 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,120 captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these 454 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,040 things, they wondered what the outcome would be, what's going 455 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,200 on? So one came and told them 456 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,840 saying, you know, you know, the men that were supposed to be in 457 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:35,720 gaol, you know, and the guards and the doors and everything. 458 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,480 Well, the men whom you put in prison, they're down at the 459 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:44,840 temple again and they're teaching the people again, the 460 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:48,680 same stuff again. Then the captain went with the 461 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:51,640 officers, brought them this time without violence. 462 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:54,600 Could you, could you guys come along with us? 463 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:56,880 Because there's a massive, there's thousands of people 464 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:01,360 gathered, listening for they feared the people, lest the 465 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:05,520 guards should be stoned. Everybody, the guards were all 466 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:07,800 unaware that the apostles had been freed. 467 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:11,320 They were not in hiding. They were at the temple 468 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,679 teaching. They are arrested yet again. 469 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,639 Third time brought before the council. 470 00:34:17,679 --> 00:34:20,639 Why? For preaching the gospel of 471 00:34:20,639 --> 00:34:26,000 Jesus Christ this morning. Let me ask you a question 472 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:28,199 because it's probably going to come soon. 473 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:35,159 If preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ was a crime, would there 474 00:34:35,159 --> 00:34:42,080 be enough evidence by those who know you at your school, your 475 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:48,400 work location, in your sports team, your family, maybe some 476 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,600 strangers? Could they garner enough 477 00:34:51,679 --> 00:34:56,520 evidence to have you convicted of preaching the gospel of Jesus 478 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,640 Christ? Would you be arrested today 479 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:07,000 found guilty of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ verse 27 480 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:11,560 and when they are brought them, they set them before the council 481 00:35:11,720 --> 00:35:16,760 and the high priest asked them saying did we not notice? 482 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:21,840 Didn't we tell you strictly command you not to teach in his 483 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:28,640 name question and look, you have filled Jerusalem with your 484 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:33,360 teaching and intend to bring this man's blood on us. 485 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:39,480 We're guilty they were. Because remember, this mob back 486 00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:46,960 in Matthew 2725 had cried out, Let his blood be upon us and 487 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:49,560 upon our children. Crucify them. 488 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:59,640 They'd said that the disciples teaching at the temple had 489 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:04,320 filled all Jerusalem with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 490 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,000 That was a compliment from the enemy. 491 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:11,400 Verse 29. But Peter and the other apostles 492 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:14,040 answered and said, here it comes. 493 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,400 We ought to obey God rather than men. 494 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:28,200 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by 495 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:30,680 hanging on a tree. Well, he didn't meet his words, 496 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:32,520 did he? You're crucified. 497 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:34,720 You killed him. You shouted for his death. 498 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,840 You're responsible. The disciples offered no, no 499 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,600 defence. Then plead. 500 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:42,480 Oh, yeah. Sorry. 501 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:43,840 Yeah. We won't do it anymore. 502 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:46,840 Didn't ask for mercy. No. 503 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:49,320 They preached the Gospel. That's what they did. 504 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,360 We ought to obey God rather than men. 505 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:59,200 In the NIV and the NLT it says we must obey God rather than 506 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,680 men. We must obey God. 507 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:04,920 This is the language of the Church of Jesus Christ. 508 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:09,320 The Church of Jesus Christ is not just considered Jesus. 509 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:14,000 Oh hey, nice fellow. Not just defend his existence. 510 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:18,280 Oh yes, we believe he lived not patronise him. 511 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:20,160 Oh he's out of all the other religions. 512 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:25,080 I find Jesus just marvellous. No, not just have theories about 513 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:29,200 him, where did he go, you know, during the early years of his 514 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:33,520 life. No, we must obey God. 515 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:39,720 A man, woman may know what they ought to do and yet never do it. 516 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:49,760 Martin Luther took on the whole of the Roman Catholic power when 517 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:53,960 he stood alone and the Protestant movement began. 518 00:37:55,080 --> 00:38:04,240 So there he stands alone. And he said, here I stand, God 519 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:07,480 help me. I cannot do otherwise, He says. 520 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:12,560 I have to. We must obey God. 521 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,360 Now here's where it comes to this. 522 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:18,040 Is there a clause in the situation? 523 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:21,000 Because this is when people usually come from prayer and 524 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:25,320 they go, I know the I know the Bible says, and then they go, 525 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:26,360 what? What's the next word? 526 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:36,960 I know the Bible says. Your situation is not peculiar. 527 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:44,360 It's not the only situation in all of the world, in all of the 528 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:47,640 history, where you are free to disobey. 529 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:53,920 It's not, Peter said. We're witnesses. 530 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:57,760 We're not someone who only talks. 531 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:03,480 Many people talk about Jesus and yet are not witnesses, for a 532 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:06,760 witness is a martyr. That's what the word came to me. 533 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:10,760 It came to me that usually mean that anyone who witnessed of 534 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:13,600 Christ was killed. It's going to happen during the 535 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:19,640 tribulation period. Once again, a witness is a 536 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:23,680 martyr. Their life is evidence. 537 00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:29,880 It's a credential. Your life, your life is a 538 00:39:29,880 --> 00:39:33,520 demonstration of one who lives in obedience to Christ. 539 00:39:35,720 --> 00:39:39,680 There's a fellow called Polycarp, 86 years of age. 540 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:47,000 The Roman Empire was trying to uproot these people who would 541 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,040 not sprinkle the incense and say Caesar's Lord. 542 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:52,280 That's all we have to do. A little bit of incense, say 543 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:53,640 Caesar's Lord. All good. 544 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:58,280 The Roman soldiers turn up. They come to arrest him. 545 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:01,280 He's an old fella. What does he do? 546 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:04,960 He goes down and he shows them where to wash, gets water for 547 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:10,800 their horses, gives them a, a whole, a meal that night, you 548 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:13,000 know, and they, they just think this guy is, he's an old guy. 549 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:16,200 He's a lovely old guy. The next day they said, look, 550 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:19,560 can't you just just say Caesar's the Lord sprinkle them. 551 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,720 That's what you have to do. What did he say? 552 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:34,120 He said 86 years I've served him, he has never wronged me. 553 00:40:35,240 --> 00:40:37,440 How can I blasphemy my King who saved me? 554 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:42,840 So they burn him. The flames didn't touch him, so 555 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:47,480 they had to stab him, bled, put the flames in and he died. 556 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:51,080 And notice again what they did say. 557 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:54,080 However, to those who are questioning them for here comes 558 00:40:54,080 --> 00:40:58,680 the gospel again, the apostles were relentless with this and 559 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:02,560 this is to be our never ending proclamation just as Jesus has 560 00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:04,000 commissioned every one of us to do. 561 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:06,560 So we wonder or what do we say to someone? 562 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:08,440 The Bible's full of the same message. 563 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,880 The Bible has the same repetitive message. 564 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:17,160 Repent, believe, repent, believe. 565 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:20,640 That's it. The God of Israel and of our 566 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,400 fathers. Peter said he it is who raised 567 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:27,720 Jesus of Nazareth from the dead, The one you murdered, the one 568 00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:33,040 you cried out, crucify him. God verse 31 exalt to his right 569 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:38,640 hand to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and 570 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,600 forgiveness of sins. Who can forgive sins? 571 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:45,840 Only God can do that. The word Prince mean here refers 572 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:48,520 to the originator or pioneer of something. 573 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:53,040 Jesus is the source, the sole source of eternal life. 574 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:57,760 He's the Saviour. Jesus came to grant repentance. 575 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:02,200 Verse 32. We are his witnesses to these 576 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:06,160 things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to 577 00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:09,320 those who obey him. Peter says we're witnesses. 578 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:13,560 See what we were and see now what we are. 579 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:18,680 This change has been brought about by God because he raised 580 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:21,120 Jesus from the dead after three days on the ground. 581 00:42:21,720 --> 00:42:26,960 God then exalted Jesus to be Prince and Saviour, to offer us 582 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:30,400 repentance and the Spirit of God that now fills us. 583 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:33,440 We each have the Spirit of God. We are witnesses. 584 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:36,080 See what we are. Look at us. 585 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:39,600 The church is never powerful unless she can produce 586 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:42,960 witnesses. That is the body of Christ going 587 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:46,000 out into the world, becoming living witnesses. 588 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:49,120 You and I, we are witnesses, and so is the Holy Spirit. 589 00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:51,520 This is the church's final power. 590 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:55,080 This same Jesus, Peter says, is resurrected. 591 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:57,680 He's exalted. He's now at the right hand of 592 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:02,360 the Father, the God of Israel. He is both Prince and Saviour. 593 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,520 And the reason all this has happened, what you see, what 594 00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:09,720 you've brought us here before, is so you can come to him now in 595 00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:12,160 repentance. Peter's calling for repentance. 596 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:15,400 He's doing an altar call. And then you too can receive 597 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:20,400 forgiveness, even you of all your sins. 598 00:43:21,720 --> 00:43:24,960 This is what the Holy Spirit of God will give you to those who 599 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:28,600 obey Him. So how did the apostles have 600 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:32,920 this great freedom in their speech when under massive 601 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:37,040 persecution? Because of their obedience. 602 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:41,320 You see, if I'm obedient to God, God fills me with His power. 603 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:45,320 If I'm disobedient, I'm cut off from the power of God and I 604 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:49,080 become weak. Obedience is seen in verse 29 605 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:52,600 and verse 32. We ought to obey God rather than 606 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:55,640 man. God has given His power to who? 607 00:43:55,800 --> 00:44:00,560 To those who obey Him. Their reaction to Peter tells it 608 00:44:00,560 --> 00:44:03,200 all, reveals it. When they heard this, it says 609 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:06,320 they were furious and plotted to kill them. 610 00:44:07,240 --> 00:44:11,160 Literally in the Greek it says Peter's words cut them in half 611 00:44:11,160 --> 00:44:16,040 like a sword. Then this Pharisee, Rabbi 612 00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:19,200 Gamaliel, he gets up and he speaks of two others that have 613 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:21,920 come up and gone, who the people followed. 614 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:26,960 And then he says in verse 39 of these people of the apostles, he 615 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:32,440 said, hey, if this is of God, you can't overthrow it, lest you 616 00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:34,200 even be found to fight against God. 617 00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:39,320 Give it time, let it go. You cannot and will not stop it. 618 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:44,960 Verse 40 the council agreed with him, and when they had called 619 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:52,320 for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they 620 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:56,920 what should not yet again speak in the name of Jesus and let him 621 00:44:56,920 --> 00:44:58,960 go. Fat lot of good that was going 622 00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:02,000 to do but when it says beat them. 623 00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:11,520 This is no light love tap. Each one of them got 39 stripes 624 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:18,200 of the catanine tails as one by one thou are whipped until their 625 00:45:18,200 --> 00:45:22,840 flesh parted. Matthew 510 Jesus says blessed 626 00:45:22,840 --> 00:45:25,360 are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. 627 00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:29,720 Why the blessing? Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 628 00:45:31,120 --> 00:45:34,400 The reaction of the beaten disciples is amazing. 629 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:38,840 How would you react? They all took off, went into 630 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:40,000 hiding. I'm done with that. 631 00:45:40,200 --> 00:45:42,000 Oh, man. Gaol. 632 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:45,080 Then a flogging. I'm not for Christianity. 633 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:47,240 That's what people do. Well, I tried Christianity. 634 00:45:47,320 --> 00:45:48,960 It was too hard. I couldn't do this. 635 00:45:48,960 --> 00:45:50,560 And I couldn't do that. What do I have to give up? 636 00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:53,800 Hell. Sin. 637 00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:02,760 Did the disciples say yeah OK, OK, we won't preach anymore in 638 00:46:02,760 --> 00:46:06,560 Jesus name to save ourselves any future persecution and beating? 639 00:46:07,240 --> 00:46:10,880 No, instead they took the beating and then what did they 640 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:12,640 do? They rejoiced. 641 00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:18,960 Verse 41 So they departed from the presence of the council 642 00:46:19,080 --> 00:46:25,200 underline rejoicing why that they were counted worthy to to 643 00:46:25,560 --> 00:46:30,120 suffer shame for his name to be identified with Jesus. 644 00:46:30,920 --> 00:46:35,280 And then what did they do daily in the temple and in every 645 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:39,600 house? They did not cease teaching and 646 00:46:39,600 --> 00:46:44,360 preaching Jesus as the Christ, though I was so personally 647 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:48,320 thrilled that God had allowed them from the experience of 648 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:52,600 suffering the shame as had their Saviour Jesus. 649 00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:56,480 They rejoiced to be able to be identified with Him. 650 00:46:56,680 --> 00:47:02,560 We just like our our Lord. In verse 42, we see that daily, 651 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:07,560 not just for 1 1/2 hours a week. They gathered both at the temple 652 00:47:07,720 --> 00:47:10,440 and in every house. They were on fire. 653 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:12,720 This church was on fire. They couldn't get enough of 654 00:47:12,720 --> 00:47:15,680 Bible study, couldn't get enough of prayer, couldn't get enough 655 00:47:15,680 --> 00:47:19,560 of fellowship. They did not cease teaching, 656 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:23,040 preaching that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. 657 00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:28,360 Let's wrap this up. The witnessing power of the Holy 658 00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:35,120 Spirit is released only through our obedience to Christ. 659 00:47:36,040 --> 00:47:38,720 So if you're trying to witness to your family and it's not 660 00:47:38,720 --> 00:47:44,840 hitting home, take a step back. Is there anything in your life 661 00:47:44,840 --> 00:47:49,400 that's blocking things? Are you in His Word? 662 00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:53,240 Are you seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit? 663 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:57,160 Is He leading you? You cannot have the power of the 664 00:47:57,160 --> 00:48:00,680 Holy Spirit if we're saying no to Him. 665 00:48:00,880 --> 00:48:04,080 You know you can't say no Lord. The 2 words can't go together. 666 00:48:04,480 --> 00:48:06,720 If he's Lord, it's yes to everything. 667 00:48:06,720 --> 00:48:10,000 You can't go. No Lord defeats the word Lord. 668 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:15,720 We are not expected, however, to be perfect because none of us 669 00:48:15,720 --> 00:48:18,640 are. We're not expected to be 670 00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:24,280 faultless in our faith. None of us are, but we are 671 00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:28,720 expected to be joyful. Some churches you go, you think, 672 00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:31,600 man, it's like a couple of people died on the surface this 673 00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:36,920 morning. And we are expected to 674 00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:41,440 persevere. Verse 42 When we face times of 675 00:48:41,440 --> 00:48:46,640 opposition, the enemy celebrates when you surrounding me so I'm 676 00:48:46,640 --> 00:48:48,440 done. I'm done with this, I'm done 677 00:48:48,440 --> 00:48:51,040 with him, I'm done with her done with trying. 678 00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:57,560 We no longer speak and teach the full message of this new life 679 00:48:58,280 --> 00:49:01,760 when we quit when we're in this state. 680 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:06,720 The world does not see the glory of men and women fully of life. 681 00:49:08,520 --> 00:49:12,280 Our disobedience cuts us off from the power of the Holy 682 00:49:12,280 --> 00:49:13,320 Spirit. Are you? 683 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:16,520 Do you have joy? Ask yourself a real question. 684 00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:18,680 Do you have the joy of the Lord? Really. 685 00:49:19,040 --> 00:49:23,160 Or is it like, no, not really. You know, if you could write it 686 00:49:23,160 --> 00:49:25,760 down and be anonymous, would you Not really, no. 687 00:49:27,160 --> 00:49:32,520 When we obey Him rather than man, we will feel God's 688 00:49:32,520 --> 00:49:37,440 pleasure. Eric, little Scottish runner, 689 00:49:38,360 --> 00:49:43,240 wouldn't run on the Sabbath, changed his event and said when 690 00:49:43,240 --> 00:49:46,120 I run I feel the pleasure of God. 691 00:49:47,720 --> 00:49:52,760 James the Apostle would be the first disciple to be martyred in 692 00:49:52,760 --> 00:49:58,560 AD 44 by Herod Agrippa. James was the son of Zebedee, 693 00:49:59,040 --> 00:50:03,680 the elder brother of John, and when James was being led to his 694 00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:08,320 execution, Fox's Book of Martyr tells us his extraordinary 695 00:50:08,320 --> 00:50:14,400 courage impressed one of his captors to such a degree that he 696 00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:19,320 fell on his knees before James and asked for James forgiveness, 697 00:50:20,040 --> 00:50:23,760 and confessed that day he was a Christian too. 698 00:50:24,520 --> 00:50:27,200 He said that James would not die alone. 699 00:50:27,640 --> 00:50:31,040 Whereupon they both will beheaded. 700 00:50:32,720 --> 00:50:42,000 The word obedience question who are you obeying, man or God? 701 00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:47,440 Obedience brings and releases God's power is the power of God 702 00:50:47,440 --> 00:50:53,080 in your life. Don't quit, persevere. 703 00:50:53,640 --> 00:50:59,680 They ceased not teaching and you will live the result, a life of 704 00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:03,640 joy. That's the life. 705 00:51:05,120 --> 00:51:10,760 Speak the words of that life to people, and Thou want what you 706 00:51:10,760 --> 00:51:18,520 have. But stand and pray, Father, as a 707 00:51:18,520 --> 00:51:26,000 church, as individuals, help us to be obedient. 708 00:51:27,560 --> 00:51:34,480 Let our obedience to you dominate any other place where 709 00:51:34,480 --> 00:51:40,440 we would be subservient. Lord, we want the power of God 710 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:45,600 in our marriage, in our relationships desperately. 711 00:51:45,600 --> 00:51:52,440 We want it in our own lives. Please speak to us, help us 712 00:51:52,440 --> 00:51:55,040 today. This we pray in Jesus name, 713 00:51:55,520 --> 00:51:55,680 Amen.