Opposition

Acts 4:1-31

Luke describes the very beginning of the church this way ??praising God and having favor with all the people? (Acts 2:47). A whole new age had begun. Jesus had been crucified but risen, bringing the promise of a new beginning and a new life. What they didn?t know then was that the same dark undercurrent that had led to Jesus? death on the cross was swirling around this new movement?stalking it, sizing it up, just waiting for an opportunity to snuff it out before it got too far. The same enemy who thought he had won by inspiring Judas to betray Jesus had won a battle but lost a war. But like many defeated foes, Satan was not going to just lay down his arms and cease hostilities.

Do you remember what it was like when you first came to understand that God loved you and had provided salvation for you in the Lord Jesus Christ? What a wonderful freedom and joy. The world seems all new and every page of God?s Word a revelation and every song an earnest prayer of the heart, and every interaction a chance to tell others about this wonderful new life you?ve found.

It?s too bad that it doesn?t last. I?m not saying that more mature believers are a bunch of sourpusses, but that new-born excitement often dims with time and often the reason is opposition. We find out, much to our surprise, that not everyone is excited about Jesus as we are.

That happened to me shortly after I came to belong to Jesus. I was experiencing fellowship and teaching and worship and the moving of the Holy Spirit and I was on fire. I went to a Bible study in someone?s home one evening and some folks were there who did not yet know Him. I took it as my personal mission to share the Lord with them. I remember one guy in particular just was not convinced, no matter how earnest I was. I was so intent on getting this guy into the kingdom that I practically begged him to say the sinner?s prayer. It didn?t work.

It is a fact of becoming a member of God?s kingdom that not all will accept the gospel and some will actively come against it. Paul the Apostle new this well. In 2 Timothy 3:10 he said ?all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.?

Today we see the first of that opposition to the message of the gospel as a direct result of the healing of a man born with a congenital birth defect that made him lame. This is another of those ?first things? that can teach of some significant lessons when we find opposition. And believe me?as a believer you are marked by Satan as an enemy to be harassed, opposed, attacked, tempted, and thwarted at all costs. The last thing Lucifer wants you to do is share the gospel.

When you speak the truth about Jesus there will be opposition in both the physical and spiritual dimensions

1 ? 2

The healing had gathered a large crowd, curious about what had happened and how. Some of the Jewish religious leaders also caught wind of the excitement and wandered over. But these are not just any Jewish religious leaders?almost all of them were Sadducees. The ?captain of the temple? was a Sadducee, who was second only the High Priest. Most of the priests were also Sadducees.

They were part of the group that demanded Jesus? arrest, conviction and crucifixion but they are also significant because of their beliefs. They held that only the first five books of the Bible were the Word of God. Because of that they did not believe in the resurrection or in a literal Messiah?He was just to be an ideal, not a real person.

So here is Peter talking about a literal Messiah whom God ?raised up? according to the ?prophets.?

3 ? 4

They didn?t know what to do so they slapped these guys into jail for the night. But it was too late. The Word of God had gone out and people were being saved. It?s kind of a silly notion to think that by putting two men in jail they could stop the work of God in the world, but it still happens today.

5 ? 6

This is a gathering of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of Israel. It was dominated by Sadducees. Luke lists several relatives of the High Priest, also a Sadducee. This was truly a stacked court?and was the same group that condemned Jesus to death, though they had to appeal to Rome to carry out the sentence. I?m sure they thought they had taken care of this ?Jesus? problem. They had no idea what they were really dealing with. They were very religious and totally lost.

7 - 12

To the rulers, authority meant everything. Peter and John didn?t have their authority and that?s all that mattered to them. Peter is quick to point out that it is not their own authority but in the name of Jesus (a name, by the way, that will cause every knee to bow). Notice also that the Holy Spirit filled him?giving him what to say. That is exactly what Jesus promised would happen in Matthew 10:18-20.

Most Jews thought Israel was the stone mentioned in Psalm 118:22. Peter clarifies that it is really Jesus as the cornerstone, not just of the nation but of the everyone ?under heaven.?

The lesson for us: Don?t fall into the trap of defending minute points of the gospel but proclaim the power of Jesus Christ simply and focus on the essentials of salvation

13 - 18

The world puts a lot of clout on credentials. While there is nothing wrong in learning, as long as it leads you closer to the Lord, having credentials means nothing if you don?t teach and believe in the truth.

The enemy will do anything to get you to shut up about Jesus. You can do good in the community and talk about values and have your services behind closed doors but don?t let that Jesus talk come out of the church or out of your life. The world will especially try to make you out as a simpleton who ?just doesn?t know better.? Again, stick to the basics ? let the Word do its work. You are just a messenger, Jesus is the expert.

Isn?t it laughable how the leaders react? ?A great miracle happened. We can?t deny it so maybe if we just tell these guys to shut up that?ll stop it.? Stop it? God worked a miracle and they think they can stop it by quieting two men?

19 - 20

You don?t have to be an expert debater, simply a lover of Jesus. Let His love pour out of your pores! Use good judgment as to when to speak?the time when the message will be best received.

21 - 22

Don?t let the enemy fool you into thinking no one is listening or cares. Often it is those that see you and hear you but never say anything to you that are the most touched. You are a seed planter, that?s all you are and that?s all you need to be. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

23 - 31

The church gathered not to moan and groan but to rejoice and pray.

God is sovereign and in control of everything, even opposition

The battle is really against the Lord, not you

Help us to speak and live for Jesus no matter what anyone does?notice they didn?t ask for the persecution to stop

God answered that prayer!

32 - 37

What is the character of this early church?

Unity of heart

Unselfishness (voluntary) ? a light hold on the things of the world

Excitement about sharing Jesus ? clinging to the things of the Spirit

Barnabas is introduced here partly for what happens in chapter 5. He is the cousin of John Mark (author of the gospel of Mark) and was Paul?s companion on his first missionary journey. He will become an important leader in the early church. He is ?son of encouragement? and this is just one example of how that plays out in his life.

Lessons

What kind of opposition to do you face as a Christian? Our society in the United States discourages Christians from living their faith on the outside. Being a visible Christian brings risk of being ridiculed or ostracized. Our opposition is both subtle (societal) and overt at times (a belligerent neighbor, friend, co-worker, or relative). We do not yet suffer the kind of official persecution felt by many during church history, but that may not be too far in the future. So what do we do? Do we just stay quiet, never share who we are as an apprentice of Jesus Christ for fear of offending someone? Let?s take a lesson from someone else who received a fair amount of opposition, the Apostle Paul.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra?which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. ESV

1. Everyone will undergo opposition
2. The Lord will rescue you
3. Evil will continue and even get worse, despite your best efforts
4. Don?t lose heart but ?continue in what you have learned?
5. Rely on God?s Word to guide you in your faith
6. Rely on God?s Word to prepare and mature you to communicate the gospel
7. Keep on working for God, no matter what the reaction

Remember ? the power of the gospel is greater than any opposition. It?s like Gamaliel said to the ruling council in the next chapter: Acts 5:39 ?but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it ? lest you even be found to fight against God.\"

?Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world? 1 John 4:12

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. NKJV

When Jesus touches a situation it becomes clean. You are a light and a healing force, no matter what it seems the opposition is doing.