Bobservations' Column
Titled - "Follow Me"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
The people watching from the sidelines see each unit marching along. But up in the helicopter, the news videographer see the entire parade from beginning to end, all at once!
This is God’s perspective of every life. From His heavenly Throne, He sees everything all at once. From our growing years to the final ones. The training, the preparation, major events and minor; the good times and the troublesome ones too. He sees influences upon us, and the ways we influence others. The pitfalls and the victories, He sees everything.
But like the Author-of-Life that He is, He has the ability to guide our steps to the straightest path possible, avoiding potholes, traversing the rough climbs, slippery slopes, and little seams in the uneven pavement of Earth. Nothing escapes His notice. He sees the plots that others have made against us, and those made against Him and His Church, and He knows a way through!
The apostles had been put in jail twice, at the hands of wayward Priests and Temple Leaders. Each time throughout Acts, they had somehow been released and brought to freedom; this is the Lord’s doing. This is specifically why Jesus’ plea to us is “Follow Me"… to freedom from sin, and the Good News of His Gospel is the path we are to follow.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Acts 5:19-42 - "Follow Me"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
As we finish up chapter 5 in the book of Acts, a few things are really beginning to stand out. First, that despite facing growing persecution, the power of a bold witness and suffering expands, yet the church is continuing to grow, not shrink. It's becoming clearer that the early church was becoming unstoppable. Why?
One thing that seems rather undeniable about the church in America today, is that it’s in a state of decline. It's declining at a very significant rate, and is having major implications in our culture.
According to the Gallup poll, less than 50 percent of people in America are members of a Christian church. Approximately 62% to 68% of the U.S. population identifies as Christian, but actual and self-reported weekly worship rates are significantly lower. The reality is that approximately about 21% to 30% of Americans actually attend worship services regularly on a weekly basis, while roughly 40% attend at least once a month. They didn't take into account what percentage of those only attend church for holidays, funerals and weddings.
The natural question to ask is, why? What’s causing this decline? Well, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s probably not that we don’t have enough resources. America is the most prosperous nation in the world, and the American church has an extraordinary amount of wealth. In addition to having such remarkable financial resources, we have a staggering array of Bible-related resources. We have ten times as many tools to help us read, study and understand the Bible at our fingertips than previous generations could even dream of. So, it’s not that we don’t have enough resources.
When we consider the early church, both during the New Testament era and during the first few centuries afterward. The early Christians didn’t have anything close to the wealth that we have—most of them were from the lower classes of society. And neither did they have the biblical resources we now enjoy. For most of the first century, the Bible was still in the process of being written. And even after that, most churches were lucky to even have access to a single copy of the Scriptures. Then add to all of this the fact that they were severely persecuted. This meant that their best and brightest leaders were routinely executed and that they couldn’t own any church buildings but instead were forced to meet in homes or occasionally in public halls.
While they had all of these things working against them, yet, against all odds, they grew. They didn’t just grow a little bit—they grew exponentially. What in the world was their secret? Why did the early church see such explosive growth despite all of their disadvantages, while the church in America today is in a state of decline despite all of our advantages? What was it about these early Christians that enabled them to be so effective in reaching their society with the gospel?
The answer is that they had unshakable faith and trust in Jesus Christ which means, having deep, steady trust in God that does not change when you are faced with hard questions, imprisonment, or even death. The apostle's willingness to face persecution for the gospel stems from deep spiritual conviction, profound love for Christ, and the belief that eternal union with God outweighs earthly suffering. God hasn't left them alone, His Spirit is upon them providing them with inner strength, joy, and peace even in the middle of severe trials. And we see that here after Peter and the apostles were beaten and threatened not to preach the gospel, "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name...and ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." - Acts 5:41, 42
One thing that seems rather undeniable about the church in America today, is that it’s in a state of decline. It's declining at a very significant rate, and is having major implications in our culture.
According to the Gallup poll, less than 50 percent of people in America are members of a Christian church. Approximately 62% to 68% of the U.S. population identifies as Christian, but actual and self-reported weekly worship rates are significantly lower. The reality is that approximately about 21% to 30% of Americans actually attend worship services regularly on a weekly basis, while roughly 40% attend at least once a month. They didn't take into account what percentage of those only attend church for holidays, funerals and weddings.
The natural question to ask is, why? What’s causing this decline? Well, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s probably not that we don’t have enough resources. America is the most prosperous nation in the world, and the American church has an extraordinary amount of wealth. In addition to having such remarkable financial resources, we have a staggering array of Bible-related resources. We have ten times as many tools to help us read, study and understand the Bible at our fingertips than previous generations could even dream of. So, it’s not that we don’t have enough resources.
When we consider the early church, both during the New Testament era and during the first few centuries afterward. The early Christians didn’t have anything close to the wealth that we have—most of them were from the lower classes of society. And neither did they have the biblical resources we now enjoy. For most of the first century, the Bible was still in the process of being written. And even after that, most churches were lucky to even have access to a single copy of the Scriptures. Then add to all of this the fact that they were severely persecuted. This meant that their best and brightest leaders were routinely executed and that they couldn’t own any church buildings but instead were forced to meet in homes or occasionally in public halls.
While they had all of these things working against them, yet, against all odds, they grew. They didn’t just grow a little bit—they grew exponentially. What in the world was their secret? Why did the early church see such explosive growth despite all of their disadvantages, while the church in America today is in a state of decline despite all of our advantages? What was it about these early Christians that enabled them to be so effective in reaching their society with the gospel?
The answer is that they had unshakable faith and trust in Jesus Christ which means, having deep, steady trust in God that does not change when you are faced with hard questions, imprisonment, or even death. The apostle's willingness to face persecution for the gospel stems from deep spiritual conviction, profound love for Christ, and the belief that eternal union with God outweighs earthly suffering. God hasn't left them alone, His Spirit is upon them providing them with inner strength, joy, and peace even in the middle of severe trials. And we see that here after Peter and the apostles were beaten and threatened not to preach the gospel, "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name...and ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." - Acts 5:41, 42
To be candid with you, if Christianity in America continues to be oriented around a bunch of motivational speakers peddling a message of "three steps to a better life," there's virtually no hope for making an impact. If it continues to be oriented around a bunch of leaders who are more captivated by the latest leadership and marketing strategies than they are by Jesus himself and the breathtaking beauty of his sacrifice, there's virtually no hope for making an impact. And if Christianity in our country continues to rely on entertainment to draw people in rather than on the glories and wonders of the gospel, there’s virtually no hope for impacting anybody in any significant way.
But if we are captivated once again by Jesus, we’ll be just as unstoppable as they were. It won't matter if churches in our country manage to maintain their tax-exempt status, it won't matter if religious liberty is upheld in the courts, it won't matter if we're allowed to own church buildings, it won't matter if we’re scorned and mocked even more than we are now. If we’re captivated by Jesus to the extent that, like these early Christians, we rejoice at being counted worthy to suffer dishonor for his name, we too can expect the world to be turned upside down by our witness. If there was ever a need for God to do a work of revival in the church, it’s now.
Sunday Morning Audio Message: Coming Soon!
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
It is not uncommon for people to claim angelic visitations. Just search the internet and there is an almost unlimited supply of such accounts in blogs, on YouTube videos, and so on. However, you probably won’t find any people claiming they were miraculously released from a locked prison in the middle of the night. Something verifiable like that can easily be disproven. Rather, claims of angelic visitations are general in nature and they make wild and fantastic claims about things that have been seen, special words from God that have been given, and so on. And more, those who make these claims aren’t just made by “Christians.” They are found among people of almost any religion you can think of.
And if there are innumerable claims of such things from non-believers concerning their angelic visitations, then why should we believe anyone, even those who claim to be Christians, concerning such things? That is what got millions of people going down the wrong path when Joseph Smith claimed he was visited by the angel Moroni. It is what got countless souls misdirected by Ellen G. White, the leader of the Seventh Day Adventists. And so forth. If God truly intended for us to accept the testimony of such false prophets, He would have given us more credible proofs of their claims to look for in His word. But He has not. Rather, He has given us His word that has been completed. It is now the place where we are to turn in order to hear the voice of the Lord.
What is recorded in Acts describes what occurred as the church was being established. These things happened, they were sufficiently witnessed to and recorded, and they prescribe nothing. Nor are they considered normative for the church age. Normative for us means, “Pick up your Bible and read it. There you will find your instruction.” Who will you trust? God has spoken. Trust Him!
The Temple (5:20) - The apostles, having been brought out of their place of custody by an angel, are now instructed by him, saying, “Go, stand in the temple.” This is the public place where the people would hear their message. It is also the place where things would be most carefully monitored by those on duty at any given time. This then speaks of both a public charge and one that is to be without fear of reprisal. They are to go back out and get about the business set before them by the Lord, which is to “speak to the people.”
The Words of this Life (5:20) -The Gospel (cf. Philippians 2:16; 1 John 1:104). Jesus Christ came into this world to provide abundant and eternal life to spiritually dead people (cf. John 1:4; 11:25; 1 John 5:20).
The words “this life” then do not refer to a new philosophy about how to live out our lives as better people. They do not refer to how we can obtain status, wealth, power, or any other such thing. They do not refer to how to be free from sickness or troubles, nor do they speak about how to be content and satisfied in all situations. These are earthly approaches to an earthly existence. Although any of these things may come upon a follower of Christ, none of them may come as well. And yet, the life that is now lived is one that has a hope that extends beyond what we now experience. What “this life” means is atonement of sin, freedom from condemnation (resulting from sin), eternal life in a new and incorruptible body, and the hope of an existence that has been prepared by God for those upon whom His favor shall eternally rest. It is an existence that comes solely by faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ. And it is also a life that comes with a guarantee that it is so, the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
The Council . . . Elders...Sent to the Prison...Officers Came...Reported (5:21-26) - Luke is carefully recording what took place as if he was an eyewitness from a distance. Each word and each thought reflect what he had been told as he investigated the matter concerning this time of incarceration of the apostles. Because of this, his words are credible and there is no reason at all to not take them as they are written. Those who are literally the eyewitnesses are the apostles, the council, the elders, the chief priests, and the officers. That's a lot of witnesses.
Doctrine (5:28) - The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only had the apostles taught upon the name of Jesus, but they had been having immense success in doing so, as testified to by the mouth of the high priest, saying, “And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.” They not only taught and brought the word to the people, but they did so after having been strictly charged by the leaders of the nation to not do so. And so bold had they been that the city had become filled with the teaching. It demonstrates that what is said about Jesus has power. If there was no proof of the resurrection, the teaching of the apostles would be laughed at and ignored. But their own Scriptures, which the apostles argued from, testified to the fact that Jesus had to come, fulfill the law, and die in fulfillment of it – This is the teaching that went forth from the apostles, and it was backed up by the very Scriptures that they had heard read throughout their lives. The high priest and the council knew this very well. But they sat upon Moses’ seat. Because they did, they knew they would lose their position and authority if Christ – who initiated a New Covenant in His blood – was fully revealed to the people.
This Man's Blood on Us (5:28) -The Sanhedrin had apparently forgotten the brash statement its supporters had made before Pilate that the responsibility for Jesus' death should be on them and their children (Matthew 27:25). Because of their rejection of Jesus, they rightly took it as a personal offense against them, as the high priest says, “and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” The blood can only come upon them if Jesus was innocent. And if He had resurrected, then He was found innocent of any sin before God. If this is so, then He is the Lord God incarnate. Each point becomes a greater and greater indictment upon the actions of those who conspired against Jesus. Whether it was the “intent” of the apostles to do this, or whether it was simply a consequence of the preaching, the result does not change. Those in the council did bear the bloodguilt, and it was being highlighted through the message.
Obey God Rather than Men (5:29) - The apostles are under order of an angel of the Lord (the Lord’s messenger), and they are under obligation of the truth of the gospel itself. Hence, their response is one that had to be stated to the leaders at this time. They must obey God. Of the word translated as “obey,” the Greek word is a new one to Scripture, "peitharcheó." It comes from two words signifying “persuade” and “what comes first.”
Thus, it signifies being obedient to the higher authority. Disobedience to Moses, of whom the council represents (see Matthew 23:2), must take place. This is not because God is overriding His own words in the law, but because the law is annulled through the work of Christ. The verse here is one that sets a clear and defining line between the covenant at Sinai (Old Covenant) and that found in Christ (New Covenant). The angel from the Lord told the apostles to go out and preach to the people what is now found in Christ. That is in distinction to what was said in Acts 4, and the words of this verse now are in direct defiance of the words of the high priest and the council again in Acts 5. This shows, without any doubt or ambiguity, that the New Covenant is the higher priority, and it is to be obeyed.
The God of Our Fathers (5:30) - This is referring to YHVH (Jehovah), the covenant Lord God of Israel, such as is recorded in Exodus 6:7. The apostles are claiming that their worship is not of a new God, a false God, or a misrepresentation of the true God. They are aligning themselves with the people at the council (our), and they are aligning themselves with the God whom the council represents (our fathers).
Raised Up Jesus (5:30) - an obvious reference to the resurrection of Jesus. The council was fully aware of the claim that Jesus had been raised. By saying God raised Him up, it meant that God was fully satisfied concerning His innocence and that His sacrifice was acceptable before Him.
Whom Ye Slew and Hanged on a Tree (5:31) - Peter and the apostles firmly avow that what happened to Jesus was a willful, violent, and unjustified attack against the Lord’s Messiah. God had approved of His life, He had raised Jesus from the dead, and thus those of the council (the verb is plural – “you all”) were guilty of His death. But more, they then added in the most striking words of all, saying, “by hanging on a tree.”
Him Hath God has Exalted with His Right Hand (5:31) - Jesus was hung on a tree, having been lifted up (see John 3:14 where the same Greek word is used) by the leaders of Israel, but God has lifted Jesus up “with His right hand.” The right hand signifies power, both in action (ability) and in position (authority). As noted, the previous verse just said that God raised Jesus. The apostles, though stating a truth, are letting the council know that there is hope for them. The actions of Israel’s leaders actually served the greater purposes of God. Forgiveness is possible if they could but accept the matter and acknowledge what they had done. With this, their next words state, “to be Prince.”
Prince and a Saviour (5:31) - The word there translated as Prince signifies “a file-leader who pioneers the way for many others to follow” (HELPS Word Studies). It is also found in Hebrews 2:10 and 12:2. Reading those verses will give a fuller idea of the thought now being presented. Jesus is the “File-leader.” He is the One who leads the way for all others who will be raised up by God, lifted up at His right hand. This is because He is also the “Savior.” This is specifically referring to Jesus Christ in His position of ability to save. The word specifically refers to Him as the One “who saves believers from their sin and delivers them into His safety” (HELPS Word Studies). It is in this capacity that Jesus is able “to give repentance to Israel.”
Repentance to Israel (5:31) - Salvation for the Jews. Salvation demands repentance. The word metanoia, or repentance, signifies changing of the heart and mind.
We are his witnesses...so also, is the Holy Spirit (5:32) - The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead and the One who inspired God’s prophets to write out Scripture, is a witness to the workings of God in Christ –The visual, audible coming of the Holy Spirit upon these men also provided a supporting witness to their testimony. That witness continues again in their ability to properly convey the meaning of Scripture, of their healing of the sick, and so on. The acts of the apostles are another part of the witness of the Holy Spirit, testifying to the fact that Jesus is the Christ. With this understood, the apostles next say of the Holy Spirit, “whom God has given.” The Holy Spirit is God, giving of Himself. It is not unlike God giving of Himself in Christ. Christ was given for the sin of the world, but that forgiveness is only applied to those who appropriate it through belief. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is given by God to humanity, but this only comes to those who appropriate the offering, and that only occurs for “to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel (5:34) - Like his grandfather the prominent rabbi Hillel, Gamaliel - the most noted rabbi of his time - led the liberal faction of the Pharisees. His most famous student was the apostle Paul (22:3). This man is said to have died 18 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, and he died as he had lived, a Pharisee. There is not the least evidence that he was a friend of the Christian religion; but he was evidently a man of far more liberal views than the other members of the Sanhedrin. Luke next notes him as “a teacher of the law.” The meaning is that he instructed others in the law (as noted above concerning Paul), but he also would have interpreted the law, learned the traditional views of the scholars of the law before him, preserved the traditions of the Jewish culture and society, and so on.
Theudas (5:36) - An otherwise unknown individual who led a revolt in Judea in the early years of the first century, not to be confused with a later Theudas cited by Josephus as a revolutionary.
Judas of Galilee (5:37) - The founder of the Zealots who led another revolt in Palestine early in the first century. Zealots, a party of Jews who were fanatical nationalists, believed that radical action was required to overthrow the Roman power in Palestine. They even sought to take up arms against Rome.
Days of Census (5:37) - One ordered by Quirinius, governor of Syria in 6-7 B.C. (cf. Luke 2:2).
To Him (Gamaliel) They Agreed (5:40) - With Gamaliel’s recommendation now stated, Luke next records, “And they agreed with him.” His argument was convincing because it was based on precedent. Further, it was based on the assumption that if the movement of the apostles was simply the work of man, it would die out, but if it was truly the work of God, nothing could thwart it anyway. The advice was sound and reasonable. With that decided, they still could not let the apostles go away without a demonstration of their authority. Hence, it next says, “and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them.” In such a tribunal, there must be a reason for such a punishment. However, none is given.
Beaten Them (5:40) - The apostles were unjustly flogged, probably with thirty-nine lashes, the standard number given to avoid exceeding the OT Legal limit of forty (cf. Deuteronomy 25:3).
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