https://soundcloud.com/antioch-church-325593234/the-power-of-the-resurrection-of-christ
The power of the resurrection
Acts 4:23-37 (Pastor Heo)
4:23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ” ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Peter and John were arrested and put in prison one night. The next day, the Sanhedrin (Supreme Court) questioned them – just because they healed a beggar in the name of Christ and preached the resurrection of Christ. The Sanhedrin wanted to punish Peter and John but could not because so many people were praising God – so instead, they commanded them not to preach of Christ (especially not his resurrection) any longer. Then, they released them with a strong warning.
Upon their release, Peter and John immediately returned to their group and reported to them the persecutions and sufferings they’d received from the Sanhedrin.
At the report of Peter and John,
- the church did not complain against God –
- they didn’t condemn nor judge the Sanhedrin,
- nor fall down into deep depression and disappointment.
No, their first reaction to this difficult situation was … to pray to God. This is a very important principle that we should apply in our own lives.
How about your own reaction with your difficulties? Your first reaction should be prayer / talking with God. Prayer is our strength – this is our practical strength. This is our first strategy, our first weapon.
Let us see their prayer – and how they prayed.
How the disciples prayed
v. 23-31 (First reaction to the bad situation and prayer)
“4:23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ” ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘ [Messiah] 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Looks like the Pentecost in chp 2 again. The earth was shaken and they were filled with the HS.
5 Points we can apply in our lives
#1 They addressed God as “Sovereign Lord”
Yes, we are talking to God personally and individually. Usually we start “Our Father in Heaven…”
This means they had strong conviction of the power and authority of God. (“You are Creator and Sustainer of all things – there is nothing impossible with you”).
You are omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent.
One day, someone threatened Martin Luther: “If you continue to go on in your course against us, you will be excommunicated, kicked out, deserted by all your supporters. Then, where will you be?”
Martin Luther: “Then, I’ll be in the hands of God.”
God is “Sovereign Lord”
Strong conviction of the power and authority of God
#2 Conviction of the uselessness of man’s rebellion against God
Acts 4:25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ” ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘
This is quoted from Psalm 2:1-2
“Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed,”
They applied the Psalm here in their situation. Their hearts and minds turned for comfort to the Scriptures. The parallel is perfect.
In these two verses, we see:
- kings
- rulers
- Gentiles (unbelivers)
- Israelites (believers)
This is the story of the crucifixion of Christ. “Anointed One” = Christ
The members of the Sanhedrin – arrested Peter and John – and had also arrested Christ. They decided to kill Christ, but had no right to carry it out according to Roman Law. So, they handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate – ruler over Judea at that time. But, he also did not want to execute Jesus because he could find nothing guilty in Christ. He heard that Christ was from Galilee – so he sent him to Herod (ruler of Galilee at that time). He received Christ, but did not judge him – he only ridiculed and mocked him – then sent him back.
So, Pilate had no choice against the crowd, “Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar!” So, he handed Christ over to be crucified by the soldiers.
What does this mean?
- kings
- rulers
- Gentiles
- Israelites
Altogether banded together to crucify Christ. ALL humans defy God, but in the end “God must prevail.”
The prayer is based solidly on the Word of God
Psalm 2:1-2
Like this, the Word of God and our prayer must go together.
John 15:7 “If you remain in me, and my Word remains in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.”
- In his Word, God speaks to us and tells us what he wants us to do.
- In our prayer, we speak to God and make ourselves available to accomplish his will.
- The true prayer is NOT telling God what to do, but asking God to do his will through us.
- It means getting God’s will done on earth through us, not getting our will done in heaven through God.
#3 The set the remembrance of Christ before them
And remembered his suffering and triumph – and they found strong conviction.
Jesus is your Lord? Then this is (more than) enough.
“Jesus is my Lord!~”
#4 For what did they pray?
For what shall we pray in a hard and difficult situation?
They prayed for courage.
v. 29
“29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”
They did not think they could face this situation in their own strength, but they prayed for God’s strength – to empower them and make the best use of their circumstances to accomplish their mission.
- They did not pray for protection, but power.
- Not fire from heaven, but power from heaven to preach and heal.
How about in our application? Do you pray?
- If you pray, please do not pray for an EASY life, but pray for STRENGTH.
- Do not pray for tasks equal to your power, but pray for power equal to your tasks.
#5 Through this prayer, we can see the result – again the gift of the HS.
v. 31
“31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
This is a similar event to Pentecost – they were filled with the HS again. They found the courage and strength they needed to witness about Christ.
Today we need to be filled with the HS again – yesterday is yesterday’s story. We need to be filled again and again and again until we see Christ face-to-face.
“Again!”
Christian community
v. 32-37
“32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
Especially in the community of the church, prayer is supremely important. Yes, the witness of Christ is also supremely important, but the highest culmination is LOVE.
They had an intense love for each other – and a desire to share all they had with one another. Why? Because they are brothers and sisters in Christ – they are one family.
This kind of lifestyle is not the result of regulation, but it is spontaneous. The Law does not compel us to share, but the love in our hearts compels us to share – that is true Christian community.
Joseph (nicknamed “Barnabas”)
He is introduced here for several reasons:
- he was a generous giver
- he illustrated the things Luke was describing
- had the most important ministry in the church (mentioned 25 times in Acts, and 5 times in the epistles)
- he encouraged Paul in his early ministry and service to the Lord
- he was Paul’s partner in his first missionary journey
- he was HS filled – a good man because he was a big encouragement to the church
Also today, we need Barnabas. We need many Barnabusses? Barnabi?
v. 33 (KEY VERSE)
“33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”
Great power + great grace = Great Christian / church
If you were in this situation, could you do like this?
They “continued” to testify of the resurrection of Christ.
Situation:
The real reason the Sanhedrin arrested, jailed, and persecuted the early church was NOT because of the healing of the beggar, but because of the gospel message – the preaching of the resurrection of Christ.
If this news spread widely, it would mean that the Sanhedrin (elders, priests, etc) were TERRIBLY wrong. When Christ rose again from the dead, they met together and created a plan. They bribed the soldiers to spread a rumor that the disciples stole his body away. If the news of this spread, they would lose their position and status. So, they did their best to stop the spreading of the news of the resurrection of Christ.
They commanded Peter and John NOT to preach of the resurrection any longer.
But… they “continued”
How about our story? Is there a warning? Is their a threat from the Korean government? Is there persecution?
WITH THIS persecution, they “continued” preaching. But we have no such strong warning from the government. So, then, why don’t we preach the resurrection of Christ? We have freedom to do so. So, if we don’t, we commit a double fault.
What does the resurrection mean to you and me? What does this say to us practically, really?
Yes, about the resurrection, I can preach ALL day. But if I do so, you will be angry, hungry, etc.
So, let me share 2 points quickly.
What the resurrection of Christ says to us
#1 Jesus is God
Do you believe this?
Romans 1:4-6 “and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are *called* to belong to Jesus Christ.”
If you are not called, there is no relationship.
We can call Jesus “Lord” – more than 1,000 things “hope, love, peace, purpose, rock, shepherd, friend, brother, etc”
Jesus can be all positions we need – how is it possible? Because he is God – so all positions we need are possible.
He is God through his resurrection – this is the evidence.
#2 The guarantee of our resurrection
This is the “first fruits” of those who believe and belong to him.
Jesus “I am the Resurrection and the Life and whoever believes in me will not die.”
Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
Yes, we experience death all the time, all around us. Somebody dies every day. Death is very near us. We experience death indirectly continually – and one day we will all experience death directly.
Jesus says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life, so he who believes in me will rise again even though he dies.”
Our physical death is literal, tangible, so our resurrection body will also be real, literal, tangible. That’s why Jesus says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life… do you believe this?”
Let’s pray.
