CANNOT BUT SPEAK OF JESUS
Acts 4:13-20
Every
year, Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors set aside a Sunday to pray for the
persecuted Church worldwide. Today, we remember our persecuted brothers and
sisters in God's family. Heb 13:3: "Continue to remember those in prison
as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if
you yourselves were suffering."
This
Scripture tells us to regularly remember our brothers and sisters who are
imprisoned or mistreated because of their faith. Let's enter their suffering as
we suffer for our faith as we hear their stories and pray for them—the story
of Bassam Video. When we know stories like Bassam's, we are prompted in
prayer to the One who has made Bassam our brother.
Acts
4:13-20, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived
that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they
recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed
standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had
commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, "What
shall we do with these men?
For
that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may
spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone
in this name." So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach
at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it
is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must
judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard" (ESV)
I
title this Sermon: Cannot But Speak of Jesus (Acts 4:20). Let's look at
what prompted the apostles Peter and John to make such a bold proclamation. It
all began as Peter and John were going up to their afternoon prayer meeting in
the temple. God interrupted their planned prayer meeting by performing a
spectacular miracle, healing a beggar over 40 years old.
That
incident sent panic through the administration and amazement through the
crowds. Peter preached a powerful message of salvation, and the Holy Spirit
convicted and saved about 5,000 people. Upon hearing the news, the temple
captain and the Sadducees arrested them and brought them before the council.
What made Peter so bold in proclaiming the Gospel message?
I.
Faith in Action (vv. 13–14)
The early Church met regularly in the temple courts,
devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of
bread, and prayer. Acts 3:42-47. They were not only growing in their
discipleship, but also putting their faith into action. Peter and John did not
walk away from the lame beggar, thinking he was hindering their time of prayer;
instead, they reached out to him and exercised their faith in God by performing
a spectacular miracle in Jesus' name.
Their faith in Christ was first
experienced by the lame beggar, witnessed by about 5000 onlookers, and finally
acknowledged by the council. Acts 4:13a: "Now when they saw the boldness
of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they
were astonished." (ESV) Where did Peter and John get such boldness? Vs. 13
b: "They recognized that they had been with Jesus." Being with Jesus
empowers us to share the Gospel boldly.
The council regarded these apostles as uneducated and ordinary men. The healing was not by their own power but by the Holy Spirit empowering them. Throughout Acts, we see the Gospel and faith in action on the front lines. In the early chapters of Acts, the Church grows amid fierce persecution. This is where the Church in the Arabian Peninsula finds itself today.
II. Church
Grows Amid Fierce Persecution (vv. 15–18)
Undeniably,
God's power worked in the apostles' lives. As the council of leaders gathered,
they recognized the evidence of God's power spreading among the people of
Jerusalem. To silence them, the religious rulers charged Peter and John not to
speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. This is a picture of persecution.
Persecution
occurs when a Christian or a group of Christians lives boldly for their faith,
and an opponent (an individual, community, or government) sees that activity
and seeks to silence them. We see this happening in the book of Acts and throughout
the world today.
Satan,
the arch-enemy of God and of us, tries to silence the voices of Christians
through persecution. The early Church began in persecution and continues to
grow amid persecution. In the top 50 countries on Open Doors' World Watch List,
more than 315 million Christians face very high or extreme persecution. 1 in 7
Christians are persecuted worldwide; 1 in 5 in Africa; and 2 in 5 in Asia.[1] Show the WWL Map. Yet in
the midst of persecution, the Church continues to grow. When Christians are
persecuted, they face two options: Be silent or continue to speak. What did the
Apostle Peter and John choose when they were persecuted?
III. Cannot
But Speak of Jesus
Acts
4:18-21, "So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at
all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is
right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for
we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." And when they
had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them,
because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened."
Peter
and John were determined to obey God rather than yield to the council's vain
threats, and they resolved to continue speaking about what they had seen and
heard. As firsthand witnesses to Christ's ministry and teachings, they had been
on the Mount of Transfiguration and had witnessed Jesus' radiant
transformation. What does this mean for us in the 21st Century?
We
are called to obey governmental authority (Rom 13:1-7, 1 Pet 2:13-17). Still,
when the government's decrees and policies clearly contradict God's Word, we
must choose to obey God, our ultimate allegiance, rather than any human
authority (Ex 1:15-17; the Hebrew midwives; Dan 6:4-10, Daniel in the lions'
den). Every country in the world today has a Christian. While many more
unreached and unengaged people groups need to hear the Gospel, no government,
radical extremist group, or any other opposition can thwart the plan of God. Like
Peter, John, and Bassam, could we also take a bold stand and speak up for
Jesus?
IV. Enter
the Suffering of the Persecuted Church
Though we are part of a small local Church
called Sharon Hope Church, we have spiritual brothers and sisters all over the
world. We belong to one BIG God's family.
According to 1 Cor 12:13, all followers of
Christ are joined together as a spiritual body, with Christ Jesus as our Head.
If one part of the body suffers, every part suffers (1 Cor 12:26).
If that is the case, how is it that many
Christians don't even care about the plight of over 365 million of our brothers
and sisters who are suffering, not only for their faith but also for ours? Since
they suffer for our faith, and we are part of Christ's body together, they need
to know that they are never alone. How could we enter the suffering of the
persecuted Church?
First, pray regularly that God will heal, comfort,
strengthen, and provide for the families of the persecuted brothers and siters
so that they can remain faithful in their newfound faith. Second, adopt an
unreached people group, such as the Senegalese; pray for their salvation and
financially invest in a missionary, a mission agency, or a church that is
reaching that group.
Many Christians, pastors, and missionaries in
troubled countries serve God without the luxuries we in the West take for
granted. Many of our brothers and sisters lack adequate financial resources to
send their children to school, provide food, clothing, and housing, or meet
their medical needs, yet they cheerfully go out and share the Good News of the
Gospel.
Here in the West, we have so much abundance,
yet we complain and are complacent about God, the Church, our faith, and
telling others about Jesus. As Scripture says, where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also. Let's re-examine our priorities! One way we can enter the
sufferings of persecuted Christians is by financially supporting missionaries
and missions in the 10/40 window. You can make your Dunkin Donuts coffee
actually work for God's Kingdom. By sacrificing one cup of coffee a day ($3.00),
you can support a missionary with $90 a month.
