The Greatness of Opposition

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 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.” 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Prayer for Boldness

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David[b] have said: ‘ Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’[c]27 “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 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

I. Unlearned and Uneducated Men…as we have discussed before Jesus as Gods word has said has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Jesus used ordinary men and women to follow him and proclaim his goodness and mercy. God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and Peter and John had left all to follow him and are now proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are facing persecution for their obedience and are facing the leadership of that community. God chose to use them to fulfill his will and his destiny and sometimes there is a price to be paid for your obedience to the Lord. Jesus said Blessed are those which are persecuted for my names sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. They were being persecuted for taking a stand for Christianity in a society that was being shook up in its beliefs. The leadership couldn’t understand the compassion and works of Christ and it revealed their hatred. Peter and John purely declared the will of God and were confronted for their works and their words. If you stand up for Jesus you will be persecuted…if you stand up for Jesus you will face opposition if you stand up for God you will be hurt as they were even thrown in jail for their beliefs and outspokenness for the Lord. Have you ever made a statement of your faith in public? Have you even ever shared your faith in private with another person? Here were ordinary men facing persecution and opposition for what they believed. We need to be led by their examples and declare the truth of Gods word both in private and in public…it is a witness to your Christian Testimony. If you stand up for Jesus people will be upset.

II. Let us threaten them that they speak no further in this Name…the leaders were concerned they were upset that people had the will to proclaim the name of Jesus. How could they not for it was him who was crucified and had died before there very eyes but had also appeared to them in private and in public saying Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel…sometimes when you want to do what is right there will be people that oppose you…sometimes when you know to say or declare the truth their will be opposition…sometimes when you want to share Gods love people will not receive it. Today don’t be afraid to stand up for righteousness and doing what is right in your lives. Today allow the Lord to be your protector and don’t be afraid to make a move for what is good for your life spiritually and morally. Say I need your help today Lord and your peace as I move forward and he will comfort you and enable you. Never be afraid to stand for the truth..for in doing so you stand for righteousness and the kingdom of God in your confession of your faith. Only good can come from your stand for God, in this case a man who hadn’t been able to walk for forty years was now able to walk and over 5000 people became converts of the Lord. The world cannot stand the truth and the light of God but we are to be proclaimers of his righteousness and his truth. It was a movement for the Lord and listen to what the world leaders did: ‘

Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ

III. This opposition promoted prayer: The apostles as a result of this persecution and threat begin to pray. They prayed to the Lord declaring what the world and the leaders had done towards the holy one and declared behold Lord their threats and their wickedness and stretch forth thy hand that they servants may speak with all boldness…instead of caving in they prayed it in. Instead of quitting they asked God for more. Instead of being hurt they reached out to God in prayer and asked him to give them boldness to continue declaring the glorious works of Christ. This opposition sparked a prayer movement in asking God to do more. Behold Lord their threats! There are times we need to ask God to step in and be encouraged by him and our Faith to continue our works with the Lord. They asked that God would continue his wonderful works through the name of his Child Jesus. For it was in his name that this man found soundness that these 5000 people found peace with God and a relationship with him ….all things come through our relationship with Jesus for he is our Hope and peace and righteousness…all channels of Gods blessings come through the peace of God and His Christ..can you believe in him today and trust him for your needs to be met. Can you believe in him and believe he hears your prayers today and knows your needs in your life? Yes you can believe today and trust him for he cares for you… Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you…Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding and he will comfort and aid you in your current affliction. For God is our peace and our shield. Trust him and he will Love you eternally today. For the grace of our Lord Jesus was this that in his Love he became poor for our sakes that we through his poverty might be made rich in the faith of the foundations of the world and all the heavens. Declare and decree it today and you will believe it.

IV. This prayer and Faith created unity and philanthropy…their was a sharing of the people with each other….of their possessions their was a true love of God working and moving in the midst of the people. The movement had began and the spirit of real Christianity was birthed…caring sharing, prayer and faith. God was in their midst and doing a great work among the people…the Lord Blessed them and moved in them to believe and continue in Faith and good deeds…today what we need is a genuine experience with the Lord to help our hearts and to possess our souls…and it will change humanity and the way it operates in greed and in problems. The world stood against this but it was the most compassionate thing that ever began and they wanted it to stop…today we can be examples to the world and to Christ. We can trust him and he will move and love us eternally…May his Kingdom be established today in your hearts and give you peace in all that you do. May the grace and peace of God keep you and establish you in every good thing and in every good work..and may we be like them and proclaim, pray and be peaceful and caring and sharing…so help us by the Grace of God…Amen.

Do you know Christ today…do you have Faith today?