This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”Working For Jesus\”, 9/20/2015

WORKING FOR JESUS

Acts 5:27-30, 33-42

 

OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD

V:27. \” Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.\”

1. The Apostles  taught and preached in the name of Jesus.
2. Many Jews and non Jews were drawn to the Apostles teaching.
3. Many people accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.
4. One of the drawing cards was the power of instant healing of the Apostles.
5. Jesus said, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.
6. The Apostles healed all the sick that were brought to them in the name of Jesus.
7. The Jewish leaders and the Chief Priests were jealous and upset that the name of

Jesus was drawing crowds to hear the Gospel and to be healed.

1. They beat the Apostles and put them in prison to be tried for claim against their

beliefs.

1. The Angel of the Lord released the Apostles by night and command them to

continue preaching the Word.

 

FIGHTING WORDS

V:28 \”We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,\” he said. \”Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man\’s blood.\”

1. I remember when my mother would say, didn\’t I tell you not…., that meant a

punishment was  to be expected.

1. The leaders of the Jewish community were upset because their authority was

questioned.

1. They were upset because they could no longer control the minds of the new believers.
2. They were upset because large crowds were drawn to Jesus.
3. The Jewish leaders were upset because the Apostles made it known that the Jewish

leaders and Chief Priests crucified an innocent man.

1. The Jewish leaders were upset because their phony mask of righteousness was being

exposed.

1. The Jewish leaders were upset because they were being exposed as crooks.
2. The Jewish leaders were guilty and they didn\’t want to admit their guilt.
3. They were upset because the man they crucified was raised from the dead.

 

GOD IS THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY

V:29. \” Peter and the other apostles replied: \”We must obey God rather than men!\”

1. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that give you power to stand boldly on the Truth

in the face of opposition.

1. It take faith to trust God with the outcome of your circumstances.
2. It takes faith to trust God with your life.

 

1. God is the authority.
2. There is no higher authority.
3. God is able to protect you from all the devices of man.

 

One thing we must remember is that job of the High Priest was not designed by God to be a political position. It was designed to be a spiritual position. It was designed to be an intercessory position between man and God.   If you can recall, Moses and Aaron the High Priest worked together for the righteousness of God and the welfare of the Nation.

They never opposed God.

 

THE DEVIL AT WORK IN THE MIND

Acts 5:33-42

V:33. \” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.\”

1. There will always be someone, who thinks they are bigger and more powerful

than God.

1. A person who makes a decision out of anger is not thinking clearly.
2. A person who does not learn from his mistakes is a foolish person.
3. They put Jesus to death assuming His preaching and teaching would die.
4. The death of Jesus promoted the Gospel of Truth.
5. A lesson unlearned will be repeated again.
6. What the Sadducees, the Pharisees and the Chief Priest didn\’t understand was

that God had more devoted disciples than they had soldiers.

1. What the enemy does not understand is God can send one angel to destroy

a whole army.

1. What the enemy does not understand is that God can get you so confused

that you will destroy yourself.

 

A VOICE OF REASON

V:34 \” But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.

35 Then he addressed them: \”Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. \”

1. Inside the enemy camp, God placed a voice of reason that changed the plan of

the foolish leaders.

1. It is good to have a historian, who can look at actions taken in the past and their

outcomes.

1. Gamaliel was a respected teacher of the law, who knew how God worked in previous

similar situations.

1. Some times in the heat of an argument, you need to step back and take a different

perspective.

1. Gamaliel had a cooler head.
2. When temperaments are agitated, you need a calming voice.
3. The Holy Spirit is our voice of reason.
4. The Holy Spirit gives believers the insight to look beyond the present situation

to see the desired outcome.

1. Decisions should never be made when the spirit is agitated.

 

EXAMPLES OF FAILURE

V:36-37. \”Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. \”

1. The voice of reason considers the history of previous events.
2. You can\’t do the same thing and expect different results.
3. It was God who insured that Gamaliel was present when the Jewish leaders was

making a decision to kill the Apostles.

1. Whatever God has planned for us, man cannot change.
2. You never know how or when God will show up to take care of your problem,

but He will be on time and in control.

1. It was God who showed up  the previous night and released the Apostles

from prison.

1. It was God who showed up and changed the evil plans of the Jewish leaders.
2. God uses our present situations to show us that He is in control.
3. God uses our trials and tribulation to glory Himself.
4. Gamaliel used the Jewish history to calm the minds of the Jewish leaders.
5. We don\’t have to be present when God takes control of the enemy.
6. The Apostles had been put out of the room, when God took control of the

conversation and the decisions.

1. God don\’t need our help to control our enemies.
2. In fact, our input would get in the way of His plan.
3. By reason, God used Gamaliel to understand that their plan was useless.
4. If the Apostles were not acting under the direction of God, they would not be

successful.

1. Since God was directing the Apostles, any action by the Jewish council would

opposed God.

 

REASON BY THE WORD

V:38-39. \” Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.

39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.\”

1. In the middle of a rage you will not think clearly.
2. When you are angry, all you can think of is what you want which is revenge.
3. When your emotions take charge, you are controlled by the desires of the flesh.
4. Since all flesh is evil, your actions under the control of the flesh will be evil
5. There were two view points represented in the council.

1.The ruling Jews considered the situation from the view of power, authority and

people respect.

1. The ruling Jews were concerned about the administration of their laws and

traditions.

1. The Sadducees , the Pharisees and the chief priests were not concerned about the

welfare of their own people, but the welfare of their position.

1. Anyone who opposed their positions or traditions needed to be punished or

killed.

 

1. Gamaliel was a teacher of the Law, therefore considered the situation from the

commands or operation of the Law.

1. Gamaliel understood that if the flesh of man was behind the Apostles teaching

they would soon fade away.

1. Gamaliel also understood that if God was directing the Apostles, then the ruling

Jews would be fighting against God and would not win.

1. Gamaliel advised the ruling Jews to leave the Apostles alone and let the truth

reveal itself.

1. When the Word of God cease to be your voice of reason, you will become

selfish, inconsiderate and evil minded.

 

DARKNESS IN THE MIST OF THE LIGHT

V:40. \” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.\”

1. While Gamaliel, the teacher of the Law considered the Word of God, the rest of the

ruling council considered their power and authority and wanted revenge.

1. After hearing the Word, their hearts were unchanged.
2. The beat the Apostles before they let them go.
3. They had the opportunity to be influence by the Word of God.
4. There is no excuse for disobedience when know the truth.
5. They opposed God with their hearts, minds and souls.
6. The ruling Jews were standing by when the Apostles used the scriptures which

they were the keepers, to show Jesus as the Messiah.   Acts 3:12-4:4

1. Instead of studying the scriptures, they used their traditions to oppose the Word

of God.    Mark 7:13

1. Instead of being guardians of the Holy Word and the people of God, they became

enemy of God and the Nation.

1. Instead of the Word being the authority, they became their own authority.

 

REJOICING UNDER PERSECUTION

V:41. \” The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.\”

1. The Apostle James said counted all joy when you face trials and tribulations.
2. The trying of your faith produces patience.
3. We have to expect that being for God the world will be against us.
4. I really believe that God allow us to be troubled by the world to test and to strengthen

our faith in Him.

1. The ruling council of Israel was so blinded by their traditions that they could not see

the truth in the Word.

1. They were so blinded by their desire to be in control that they could not recognize

the God who controls everything.

1. They were so for themselves that couldn\’t have compassion for their own people.

 

DETERMINED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

V:42.  \” Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. \”

1. You cannot let the threats of men discourage you from proclaiming Jesus as Lord and

Savior.

1. The Word is the truth that everyone needs.
2. People in the dark may not know that the are in the dark.
3. People in the dark need a road way to the light,
4. Jesus is the way, the truth and the light.
5. We are ambassadors for Christ.
6. If we quit being ambassadors for Christ, we are good for nothing.
7. We have to stand on the Word of Truth so others can see the glory of God.
8. Everyday is another opportunity for us to give God glory.
9. Everyday is another opportunity to for us to introduce someone to Christ.

 

STANDUP FOR CHRIST

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

 

Asst Pastor of Greater MacedoniaBaptistChurch