Abounding Grace

Announcer: Taking a stand for the Lord, when it's not easy to do so, with boldness and courage. Next, on Abounding Grace.

Announcer: So, imagine being in a position where your life was on the line and you were commanded not to speak the name of Jesus ever again. How would you handle that? Today on Abounding Grace, we find Peter and John in that very situation. How they handled it all will prove to be very instructive to us for these times that we're facing threats and intimidation. Here's Pastor Ed Taylor in Acts chapter 4 in part one of You Can't Stop Speaking the Name of Jesus.

Pastor Ed Taylor: Take your Bibles again, open them to Acts chapter 4. We're going to pick up where we left off last time. Acts chapter 4 there in verse 13 in a Bible study that I've entitled You Can't Stop Speaking the Name of Jesus. Little long, but very important. You can't stop speaking the name of Jesus. And here Peter and John are standing before the religious rulers. Their life is on the line. And notice in verse 13 they say when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and they perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvel.

And they realized they had been with Jesus and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves saying, What shall we do to these men? For indeed what a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name.

And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. This is the final response to the religious rulers of the day as we've learned. Religion is always an enemy of the gospel and they're not happy that God has done a great thing in someone's life and now they want to say to Peter and John, don't ever, never, ever speak in the name of Jesus ever again. You know, many times pressure and intimidation and fear and threats come to us as well. I mean, these are actually the tools of our enemy designed to silence us, designed to silence you, to keep you inactive, to make you cower in fear, to keep you quiet, to keep you to yourself, never really sharing what God has done in your life, never really giving of yourself to connect with someone else for the purpose of sharing the gospel.

So, there's fears and threats, things designed to I mean, I think it's once been said, you know, if the enemy can't destroy you, then he'll try to distract you and keep your eyes away from that which is important and that which is eternal. Well, threats will do that. I mean, let's be honest with threats and fear and intimidation, they can have an effect on us. It 's not like we're superhuman that we're all we can take it all. Go ahead and send it all. No, that they have an effect on us. If they didn't, the enemy wouldn't use them.

You know, when when you're threatened with it, for example, let's put it down to something that could be very relatable. You may not be threatened with your life, but when you're called into the office and you know your boss is there, your supervisor is there, and HR is there, and there's word that you've been living out your Christian faith at work, you know, there's going to be some concern. What's going to happen in this meeting? How is this going to turn out? What do they have in mind? And so fear and threats and these types of things will easily discourage us because you were designed You were designed as a believer to share your story.

I mean, in reality it's not your story, it's God's story of his work in and through your lives. And like this guy here, they couldn't deny it. It was obvious. Not only could they not deny it, but the whole area was talking about the faithfulness of God. You have a story, I have a story and it was meant to be shared. It's God's story of salvation. Now, some of us have very dramatic stories where God has taken us and delivered us from the deep pit of sin. And in that dramatic story, you know, man, the faithfulness of God is greatly highlighted.

But others of you, you might look at your story and go, well, you know, mine is not that dramatic. You know, especially those of you that were raised in the church, raised in a Christian home, you go, well, my my my story's not that dramatic. But but I would suggest that it is. It's equally dramatic in a different way. So, for somebody like me that got saved later in life, totally throwing my life away in sin and debauchery, God delivered me out of sin. And there's some drama to that. But for many of you that were raised in a Christian home that are being raised in a Christian home, you weren't delivered out of sin.

You were delivered from sin. Like God has actually held you back from getting involved in things that would drastically destroy your life. And so your story, I mean, think about it. In this culture right now, as you continue to make a decision to follow God, to dedicate yourself to him, there's a story right there. There is a need for power in the world in which we live to say no, to stay away, to live a holy, pure, and righteous life because of your love for Jesus. And your story should be shared. You shouldn't be fearful, fall to threats, but rather step forward with boldness, as we'll see, and share your story.

It reminds me of Revelation chapter 12. Some of my favorite verses when it comes to testimonies, when we have testimony nights, I'll always read this verse. And let me read it to you now. It says Revelation chapter 12 verse 10. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come. For the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down. And then verse 11 is so cool. Listen. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.

There is power in the word of your testimony. There is overcoming power when you share what God has done in your life. And I know that there's a part of me whenever I'm sharing parts of my testimony, like there's a part of me that's kind of discouraged. I wish it never happened. I wish I could have avoided it. But there's a greater part of me just thinking about, wow, how good is God? And I'm listening to the story and I'm like, man, that's so bad, but then I'm like, oh man, that's my life. That's my life.

This is what God has done in my life. And people will like to argue with you about the Bible, they'll argue about the rapture, they'll argue with you about what version of the Bible, they'll argue with you a lot of different things, but they can't argue with your testimony. You want to know why? You were there. It's your story. It's God's work in your life. So, it says in verse 13, you know, when they couldn't say anything, they're seeing the boldness. We looked at these verses in depth last time. They realized that they had been with Jesus when in reality they were with Jesus in that moment.

And then verse 14 they saw the man and they couldn't say anything about it. They didn't believe it was the power of God, although I think they did. It just wasn't saving faith. They didn't want to believe it. They didn't want to change. Even the evidence was right in front of them. Their hearts didn't get softer with the truth. Their hearts got harder. And this should be a somewhat of an encouragement to you. Those of you that have shared your story, those of you that have shared the gospel and the response from the person was worse.

It was harder. It was more anger. It was more defensiveness. It was more difficulty. And you're like, man, what did I do wrong? No, you didn't do anything wrong. It is unfortunately a natural response for a hard heart to get harder, especially when they hear the truth, especially as you're sharing the truth with them. I mean, as lovingly and as tactfully as you did cuz we do need to share in love and tact. Of course, hearts will get harder and it 's unfortunate. I mean, when you follow the life of Jesus, you see that not only did the hearts get harder, but their hearts became murderous, so much so that they followed through with an illegal murder of Jesus.

It's very plain here. It's very plain that the Sanhedrin, that's the name for this religious group, the religious rulers, the 70 plus one, it 's very obvious and plain that the Sanhedrin didn't reject the testimony in Peter and John because they couldn't believe. They rejected because they wouldn't believe. And that's a big difference. It's not that they couldn't. Of course they could. But they chose not to. They wouldn't believe. They're speechless here. The guy's standing right in front of them and they won't accept it. And it's encouraging because we're surrounded by walking miracles and it's discouraging cuz we're surrounded with people that won't accept it.

And they choose not to change. By the way, before we move on to the rest of the text, I I I just want to draw your attention to this person, this guy that was healed, this unnamed man who's over in his 40s who was healed. Because I don't want you to forget that Peter and John are in big trouble here. Like their life is on the line. These men who just crucified Jesus can also do the same to Peter and John. But you can see they're kind of political and playing the games and maybe not so You know, I find that those that threaten and those that really move in that realm to try to make you fearful and cowered are actually cowards themselves and full of fear themselves, trying to project it on you.

And here they are. They're they're they're giving all these intimidating threats and things that you'll see. And and yet Peter and John stand there in boldness and so does this man. This man is standing with Peter and John. You have to To order In order to understand this, you have to step back for a second and go, you don't know how this is going to end. I mean, we do cuz we have the next page and the next paragraph. He doesn't know how this is going to end. He He doesn't have the future. All he knows is that Peter and John are there and he's with them.

He chose to stand with them. He He chose not to go on and move on and leave Peter and John to answer for all this. He's sticking around with them, clinging to them if you will. And if you like to write in your Bibles next to verse 14, you may want to just write next to that real friend. Because he demonstrates what a real friend looks like in times of crisis. He could have avoided this completely. He could have avoided the persecution, the the scrutiny. But a real friend hangs in there through the good and the bad.

That's what a real friend does. And I have learned as many as you have that trials really reveal the depth of relationships and friendships. Your personal trial has probably revealed to you the depth of relationships and friendships that were connected to you. And unfortunately not everything revealed is is really helpful, right? Because many hearts are revealed and not everyone sticks around during difficult times. Where you thought they were friends and you thought they had your back and you thought that their your relationship was deeper than it seemed and when you went through something and they bailed on you or abandoned you or just kind of moved on with their life, which this guy with the healing could have done, you're like, what happened?

Well, God revealed that the friendship wasn't what you thought it was. You just got to ask for the Lord to heal you and be the kind of friend, right? Do unto others as you would have them to do under you, Jesus said. Be the kind of friend that you want to have. And you'll be surrounded with people very similar. And he's standing there and he encourages me. He encourages me because there are those that will stand with you and help to bear your burden and stand with you through the tough times. So, the Sanhedrin step back and go, what are we going to do?

You They're backed into a corner here. There's really nothing they can do. They're backed into a corner because the evidence of God's work is it's it's readily seen and acknowledged by everyone. And for a group that knows the Bible, they really don't know it. For a group that that has studied the Bible and you know, religiously are in the Bible all day, every day, they really don't know it because what's happening here is a fulfillment of Psalm chapter 2. They They are plotting against the Lord. Even though they're in a position that say that they're helping people on behalf of God, the people that say they're supposed to help on behalf of God are actually plotting against God.

Remember when Saul of Tarsus was headed down to Damascus, his was it was his conversion experience and he was knocked off his animal and there was a voice from heaven and part of what was said from heaven, Jesus is speaking and he says, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? I mean, you can be in a position where you think you're doing something for God, but you're actually against the very God that you say you're serving. That's what he's They're living out here. And in chapter 5 you can read it for yourself in verse 34.

We're introduced to one of the leaders. His name is Gamaliel. He was known as the chief rabbi of the day. He was the man that Saul of Tarsus sat under as a disciple. Gamaliel will later say, look, you got to you got to let these guys alone because if it 's truly a work of God, you can't overthrow it. And here they are already in chapter 4 trying to overthrow the work of God. And you know, when you're caught up in emotion and you're caught up in frustration and you're caught up by feeling backed in a corner, you know, in your own flesh, you're going to make decisions like this.

You You're going to go against all logic and reason and make really foolish decisions. So, be careful, church. Be careful that the word of God is not just a knowledge that you have, but it's a life that you live. And so what do they say? This is what they say in verse 18. They called them, commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Once their meeting is over, they called Peter and John back in and said, okay, here's our answer. Don't you ever speak in the name of Jesus again.

And we one of the reasons I think this was their specific command is I believe they believed Acts chapter 4 verse 12. Even though they didn't know the verse, they believed that there was no power and no other than the name of Jesus to save a person, to change a person cuz they didn't just to heal a person cuz they didn't just see healing. They are literally watching thousands of people be transformed right before their eyes. And there's no explanation for it. The only thing they can see is they're losing power, losing influence, and they want to keep it.

So, they use threats and intimidations. That's what this is. Don't you dare speak in this name. Well, why are they so concerned? I mean, if it's really not real and there's no power behind it and they're really not from God, then just let it go. But they believe and they're just not willing to say it and submit their lives to Jesus. Well, notice in verse 19 it says, but Peter and John answered and said, whether it's right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which you have seen and heard.

So, when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them because of the people since they all glorified God for what had been done. Verse 22. For the man was over 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. I love this. See, they're not backing down. You tell us not to speak in the name of Jesus. That's not going to happen. But they say it in a positive way. Again, tactfulness is such an important tool for us to learn. They say it in a positive way.

They don't stir up more problems. They They don't cop an attitude. They just kind of lay before them a very reasonable answer. And And they look at them and go, look, you guys want us to listen to you more than to God? That's you. You guys judge what we should do. And what he's saying is we're going to listen to God. We hear you, but we're going to listen to God. We're going to follow him first. And then they follow that up with another reasonable statement, something along the lines of, well, what do you want us to do?

This is our life. What do you want me to do? All we can do is just share what we've seen and heard. That What do you want us to do? You You want us not to tell people about our lives? You want us not to give the experience that we've had? That can't happen. Because this is our experience and God wants us and we're going to listen to God more than to you. So, what was the response verse 21? They further threatened. Because the enemy of our souls are not is not going to be happy until he's taken you out.

Right? The devil has not come except to kill, steal, and destroy. And if he can't destroy you, he'll distract you and he'll just constantly just constantly just constantly come at you until you finally give in or not. And so here they are. They're not backing down. They won't give in. They They take it in a more positive approach. I I really believe after coming through the things that we've come through for the last couple of years, this is a very similar approach that we've adopted, a very similar biblical approach. We're not going to make a big deal about things.

We're not going to stir up strife. We're not going to pick fights. We're just going to do what God's called us to do. And And when something comes, some place of injustice or or some decision that doesn't make sense or even something that might go against God, we we are going to follow God. And this is This is an important principle as you see now what the next step was. It's very important you see the next step. They're being threatened. They're told to be quiet. They're said, don't do this. And it is unjust and it is unfair and it isn't right.

So, what did they do? Verse 23. Being let go, they went to their own companions, reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So, when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, you are God. You made heaven and earth and the sea and all that's in them, who by the mouth of your servant David have said, why did the nations rage and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.

For truly against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to your servants that with all boldness that they may speak your word. By stretching out your hand to heal, that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were all filled with the holy with with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

So, what did they do? They gave a reason, logical answer that was tactful. Then they went back to the church if you will, to their fellow believers and they had a prayer meeting. That's where real perspective comes in times of prayer. Whereas they're praying, they're like, you know what, you're God. You're all powerful. You created everything. You know what's happening here. Look at their threats. It's just like you wrote and they quoted David, which is the Psalms, which is here another reference to the inspiration of Scriptures. But you know what they're quoting? What the Sanhedrin should have known.

Psalm 2. That's what this is here. It's it's Psalm 2. It's the first couple of verses. And they probably don't acknowledge Psalm 2 because they think, oh well, that's for someone else. That's for someone else. I mean, how many times you come to the Bible and some thing jumps off the page and go, oh, that must be for my wife. I'm going to tell her right away. Uh this is you. Or that must be for my boss or my friend. I'm going to tweet that out. Hey, go ahead, tweet it, give it away. But guess what?

It was probably for you. And the Lord just wants to minister to you. And so here they are. They're praying and they're praying the Scriptures. Hey, look at them. Look Look what's happening. You see what's happening. It's just like what happened with Jesus. All the injustice and all the unfairness. But with Jesus, what did he say? They They As they're praying, what did they say in verse 28? This is all your hand. This is all predetermined. This is This is what you have allowed. This is where you are God. We're under your authority. We trust you.

And then they ask, just look on their threats and grant us your servants with all boldness they may speak your word. And I love that approach. With things that are unfair and just, all this heaviness is coming in our life. What do they do? They go to to the Lord in prayer and they pray a specific way. They say, you know what God, there's a lot of things outside of our control. You take care of those. Look at their threats. I mean, what are they going to do? They can't do anything about it. These guys are in power.

God has allowed them to be in power. They can make whatever decisions they want. They've been known to make bad decisions. There they are. And here's Peter and John. They love Jesus. They just want to worship him. They just want to see people get healed and they're standing there with their life on the line. They come back and the church says, you know what, there's a lot of that stuff in the world today. God, you just look on their threats. You do what you can do and then give us the strength to do what we can do.

And And it's that phrase that we've been using for a couple of years now, right? We just got to allow the world to be the world, but only we can be the church. Only you can be the church.

Announcer: You're listening to Abounding Grace with our Bible teacher and Pastor Ed Taylor. To give this a second listen, all you need to do is visit aboundinggraceradio.com or oneplace.com. Or you can listen through our app that can be found in the app store or Google Play. Abounding Grace is made possible through the generosity of our listeners. Each gift that comes in serves to help us present the teaching of God's word on both the radio and the Internet. And think of this, you'll be helping thousands all over the world learn about God's amazing grace and how to grow by it.

And today when you give a donation of $25 or more, we'd like to say thanks by sending you Pastor Ed's latest book just released. It's How to Take Notes. As you're listening to Bible studies on the radio or at church, I'm sure you want to get the most out of it and practically apply what you're hearing. Well, taking notes is a good way to accomplish that goal and this helpful book will lead and guide you through the process. Just call 877-30GRACE to make your request and your donation today. You can also order online at CalvaryCO.store.

Again, 877-30GRACE or CalvaryCO.store. And thanks again for joining us today for Abounding Grace with Pastor Ed. May God richly bless you with his Abounding Grace.

Guest (Male): This is an amazing grace. This is an unfailing love. That you would take my place. Then you would bear my cross. You laid down your life that I would be set free. Oh Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me.

Announcer: Abounding Grace is brought to you by Calvary Church Colorado here in Aurora.