To Be Continued...
So often when we watch a movie or tv show, we are left wondering what’s going to happen next. That is typically where you encounter the climax of the story, which eventually leads to a resolution.
Have you noticed that in shows before? They just stop the episode with a cliffhanger, or with the words “To Be Continued...” only to leave wishing that you could immediately watch the next scene and see how things will get resolved.
Well, I’m not saying I did that well in my presentation of Acts 5:12-26. Perhaps you weren’t wondering what was coming next. But it was a “To Be Continued...” moment.
This past Sunday, as we unpacked Acts 5:27-42, we picked up at the 2nd half of the story, and observed the resolution of what went down with the apostles after being put in prison by the Jewish leaders, released by the angel, and then arrested again by the Jewish leaders.
In Acts 5:27-42, we see several points of application for us, when we face suffering and persecution for our faith in Christ.
#1 – Submit to God’s authority in your life. (Acts 5:27-32)
The apostles were pressured to give in to the Jewish authorities, which would have resulted in disobedience to God. We too can be tempted to give in to peer pressure, or be swayed by the culture or the opinion of others or even political powers. But it takes courage to say like Peter and the apostles, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
We must feel the tension though, that submitting to God in your life, doesn’t mean rejecting all other authority figures in your life. Scripture is clear, that we are to submit to and honor those in authority over us, even those who are evil. It takes wisdom to know how to obey the Lord and submit to human authorities.
And ultimately, we are to submit to God as the authority over us.
Have you given Him control of all aspects of your life? Have you placed yourself under the authority of Bible, allowing God's Word to determine, dictate, and direct your life?
#2 – Rejoice in God. (Acts 5:33-41)
One of the hardest things to do, at least for me, is to rejoice in God in the midst of suffering. But that’s what the apostles did. The Jewish authorities were enraged and wanted to kill the followers of Jesus. After they were given some sound advice, they chose instead to “beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go” (Acts 5:40).
To which the apostles left “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41).
How can you rejoice in God when you suffer for following Jesus? When you encounter opposition for being a Christian, how do you not only survive, but thrive?
For me that’s incredibly difficult. But I have come to the realization that if I focus my mind on the reward of heaven and being with Jesus, I can endure and rejoice. And, if I can see how God can use it make an impact in someone else’s life in a saving way, I can endure and rejoice.
How about you? Have you experienced mistreatment for being a Christian? How did you find joy in the midst of suffering?
#3 – Do not stop sharing the gospel. (Acts 5:42)
It is quite convicting to think that these followers of Jesus, after being persecuted and mistreated, continued to go about their business of “teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:42). And to think they did this on a daily basis, in the temple and from house to house, is quite remarkable.
They give us an example here of what their lives revolved around. Their entire lives centered around Jesus and making Him known. They enjoyed being in the company of other believers. They shared their lives with each other. They were connected to Christ and to each other.
And that’s my encouragement and challenge for you.
And in doing so, we are following the example of the early church, bearing witness to Jesus, and trusting in the promise of Christ to build His church.
For this week: Read John 12:12-26
Have you noticed that in shows before? They just stop the episode with a cliffhanger, or with the words “To Be Continued...” only to leave wishing that you could immediately watch the next scene and see how things will get resolved.
Well, I’m not saying I did that well in my presentation of Acts 5:12-26. Perhaps you weren’t wondering what was coming next. But it was a “To Be Continued...” moment.
This past Sunday, as we unpacked Acts 5:27-42, we picked up at the 2nd half of the story, and observed the resolution of what went down with the apostles after being put in prison by the Jewish leaders, released by the angel, and then arrested again by the Jewish leaders.
In Acts 5:27-42, we see several points of application for us, when we face suffering and persecution for our faith in Christ.
#1 – Submit to God’s authority in your life. (Acts 5:27-32)
The apostles were pressured to give in to the Jewish authorities, which would have resulted in disobedience to God. We too can be tempted to give in to peer pressure, or be swayed by the culture or the opinion of others or even political powers. But it takes courage to say like Peter and the apostles, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
We must feel the tension though, that submitting to God in your life, doesn’t mean rejecting all other authority figures in your life. Scripture is clear, that we are to submit to and honor those in authority over us, even those who are evil. It takes wisdom to know how to obey the Lord and submit to human authorities.
And ultimately, we are to submit to God as the authority over us.
Have you given Him control of all aspects of your life? Have you placed yourself under the authority of Bible, allowing God's Word to determine, dictate, and direct your life?
#2 – Rejoice in God. (Acts 5:33-41)
One of the hardest things to do, at least for me, is to rejoice in God in the midst of suffering. But that’s what the apostles did. The Jewish authorities were enraged and wanted to kill the followers of Jesus. After they were given some sound advice, they chose instead to “beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go” (Acts 5:40).
To which the apostles left “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41).
How can you rejoice in God when you suffer for following Jesus? When you encounter opposition for being a Christian, how do you not only survive, but thrive?
For me that’s incredibly difficult. But I have come to the realization that if I focus my mind on the reward of heaven and being with Jesus, I can endure and rejoice. And, if I can see how God can use it make an impact in someone else’s life in a saving way, I can endure and rejoice.
How about you? Have you experienced mistreatment for being a Christian? How did you find joy in the midst of suffering?
#3 – Do not stop sharing the gospel. (Acts 5:42)
It is quite convicting to think that these followers of Jesus, after being persecuted and mistreated, continued to go about their business of “teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:42). And to think they did this on a daily basis, in the temple and from house to house, is quite remarkable.
They give us an example here of what their lives revolved around. Their entire lives centered around Jesus and making Him known. They enjoyed being in the company of other believers. They shared their lives with each other. They were connected to Christ and to each other.
And that’s my encouragement and challenge for you.
- Prioritize the preaching and teaching of the Bible.
- Prioritize being connected to the church family.
- Find ways to share your life with other Christians.
And in doing so, we are following the example of the early church, bearing witness to Jesus, and trusting in the promise of Christ to build His church.
For this week: Read John 12:12-26
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