The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission
“Sauls Are Watching!” • 9.16.08 • Session #1
Intro.
- There are rare seasons of years in life that define decades. While those years are happening, most people are ignorant to the significance of what is occuring.
- As an example the 1960’s was a decade that transformed the music and political landscape. In that same decade, the Jesus movement counterculturally answered the call for lasting peace.
- I wonder what people thought about with regard to the significance of what took place just 40 days after Jesus, the Galilean had been crucified. Who would have guessed on a human level, what would came to pass?
- Fishermen were now the leaders of a spiritual movement. Peter, the lead fisherman spoke and almost 3,000 people received the word with gladness.
• Acts 2:46,47 : “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
- Voila! The Church is born and a society stands up and takes notice. Soon the same powers that attempted to destroy Jesus came against the leaders of this new sect.
- In Acts chapter 4, the Sanhedrin brought Peter and John before them and told them that they were to cease and desist speaking in the name of Jesus.
- The disciples reply was that they would obey God, rather than man.
- Just one chapter later, the conflict comes to a head again. The Apostles have been instructed by the Lord to speak in the temple, and they obey.
- Because of their obedience, they are immediately arrested and subsequently, miraculously delivered from prison. The guards did not find them until they looked in the temple where they were teaching in the name of Jesus.
- It was time to have a little discussion to make sure that the point got across.
• Acts 5:27,28 : “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!’”
- In a fit to figure out what to do, the Sanhedrin sought to consider an action that would deal with this new sect of Judaism.
- Upon their second meeting with these apostles, the religious leaders took their usual default position, which was to conspire to murder. This is when one of their own respected leaders spoke up.
- Gamaliel, a Pharisee and an experienced teacher of the law, stood up and reasoned with this council of people.
• Acts 5:38,39 : “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God.’”
- The Sanhedrin chose to beat the Apostles and send them out, which garnered this response from the Apostles:
• Acts 5:41,42 : “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
- Now, seated in the background was a young fly on the wall Pharisee that was taking all of this in. His name was Saul.
- He is captured in this context, in this burgeoning conflict between the religious establishment and this new sect of Judaism. He stands directly in the middle between the old and the new.
- I believe that even in this moment, there is a crisis in the mind of this young man that we need to seek to connect to.
- There were legitimate concerns and questions that likely began at this moment that began the future apostle on a road that would change his destiny and our world forever.
- Today, there are Sauls in our midst. They are watching and wondering if what they have lived for is worth continuing in. They are wondering what reality and life is really about.
- What was Saul seeing that might have moved him to reconsider his stance in life? What will the Sauls in your life need to see to make them reconsider the reality of Christ?
- Saul saw three indisputable characteristics that these Apostles exemplified, that we should seek to adopt as well. Saul saw that
• Acts 3:1-7 : “Now, Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Peter and John still followed Jewish tradition, going daily to the temple for prayer. They did not yet view themselves as distinct from Judaism.
- However, it was their actions toward this man, that distinguished them from those in Judaism.
- As they came to this gate, they encountered a lame man that would normally be ignored.
- He was a beggar, who made his living right there on the steps leading up to the temple.
- Peter walked toward this person and engaged him. Notice, He fixed his eyes on him.
- This beggar was not a drunk. Nor was he a criminal who was attempting to employ his poverty for free provisions, as is often the case today.
- This man was a legitmate sufferer. In these types of situations, the easiest thing to do is to avert our eyes from human suffering.
- Peter fixed his eyes on this man and offered to give him what he had. Notice those words: “What I do have, I give you.”
- That to me is the essence of Christianity, when we talk about the relation of our faith to the watching Sauls of this world. We may not have money, but what we do have is prayer and kindness.
- We may not have the answers, but we can offer support and solace.
- We might not have power, but we have Jesus and Jesus is what this man needed!
- It’s unfortunate that as Christians, we often dwell on what we don’t have and make excuses for not employing what we do have for the service of Christ. Peter was willing to give what he had.
- Notice that Peter says, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This was done with His authority and for His glory. It’s akin to saying, “Jesus gives me power to do this and I do this on His behalf.” Later, Paul will explicitly deal with this concept.
- Turn with me to II Corinthians 5:18. Paul has just told the Corinthian believers that they have been “re-created” to perform a specific task on the Earth.
• II Corinthians 5:18-20 : “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”
- Now, this agrees with Christ’s words to His disciples. Turn with me to Matthew 5:14. Jesus in the sermon on the mount says:
• Matthew 5:14-16 : “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
- These are His arms, His hands, His legs, etc. He employs my body to exercise His will in this world!
- I want to respond to the needs of the spiritually lame with the same treatment. For the sake of Jesus, because His love compels me, I touch, pray for, your life, your healing, your heart to be ministered to.
- Let me suggest that this story would really lose all of it’s excitement if Peter did what we often do. What if Peter had responded this way: “Oh, I’ll be sure to pray for you. I’m sure it’s difficult to be lame!”
- No! Peter touched this man. He personally allowed the Lord to heal and minister to this man through him.
• Acts 4:7-12 : “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’” : The religious people were always intriqued by the source of good things. They questioned Jesus in the same way in Matthew 21:23, Mark 11:28 and John 2:18.
- Peter without blinking an eye, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks of where his authority and power came from: Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
- Before they could stop him, Peter rattled off several facts that needed to be heard.
- They had crucified Jesus. They had rejected Jesus. The religious leaders present were torn and befuddled, for they offer no argument.
- Then Peter utters a great line that is worthy of our memorization: Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved!
- Turn to Philippians 2. Paul talks about Jesus being the paradigm of humility, having come from heaven to earth, taking the form of a bondservant. But it would not remain that way.
• Philippians 2:9-11 : “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
- Men, there is power only in the name of Jesus. He is not your higher power, the big guy upstairs, or your enlightened teacher. He is Jesus and these men mentioned Jesus Christ at every opportunity.
- Imagine if you brought Jesus Christ into your conversations as more an authority and less a curse word! Of course, this group would not be guilty of that, but is that all that the Sauls around your life hear of His name?
- What if they heard, “Our business is doing well and I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for that.”
- “I used to struggle with that until I received Jesus Christ into my life…” Oh, one might object, that you don’t want to sound fanatical. Let me ask you: WHY NOT!?
- Why are we so afraid to speak up or stand out? The Sauls of the world are watching, and if you fit in, why would they be challenged to consider Christ?
- If nothing makes you different, then the Sauls of this world will never take notice! But the apostles were different and Saul DID notice! Take a look at verse
• 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.”
- Do the Sauls around you have the same opinion? Does your speech betray an intimacy with Jesus Christ?
• Acts 5:27-29 : “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men…' And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Coming into chapter 5, the disciples have been brought again to the council. I would love to have seen this conflict. “Did we not strictly command you…”
- Who did these people think that they were? They had never been challenged, and they were used to calling the proverbial shots.
- Listen again to their indictment: You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine! What an awesome statement!
- At the time of this writing here in chapter 5, the church had expanded from the initial 3,000 in Acts 2:41 to 8.000 according to Acts 4:4. This was a mega church movement!
- The apostles were threatened and ordered to discontinue their efforts. They would not budge. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Oh to have men like this!!
- This was their mantra, their modus operandi! This was their statement to the council the first time, recorded in chapter 4:19,20. This is their statement yet again.
- What a statement to make in the presence of the proverbial Sauls of life. These guys aren’t going to play by these rules!
- They are going to obey God rather than man, and not flirt with or sleep with women that aren’t their wives!
- They are going to obey God rather than man, and not honor the code of unwritten conduct that compromises their character.
- Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that the councilmen had the disciples beaten. And they rejoiced. They were glad that they were counted worthy to suffer. And then we see verse 42.
- Daily in the temple, out in the open or in every house, in private, they obeyed the word of the Lord totally! They did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ!
- You can’t tell me that this did not impact Saul! Further, you can’t tell me that it won’t impact the Saul watching your life. “Nothing will stop this guy from obeying God!”
Conclusion
- When we think about Sauls watching, we have to remember what a great opportunity that we have as men to be men like this.
- Today we can choose to reach out and touch lives. It probably won’t be miraculous, but you can pray for healing anyway! It might not be powerful, but a hand on the shoulder in Jesus name works wonders!
- Today, we can choose to relay Jesus with how we speak. Is He getting the glory for your success? Is He getting the press He deserves?
- But more than anything, if we cannot say anything, we can obey totally, and that says it all!
“Sauls Are Watching!” • 9.16.08 • Session #1
Intro.
- There are rare seasons of years in life that define decades. While those years are happening, most people are ignorant to the significance of what is occuring.
- As an example the 1960’s was a decade that transformed the music and political landscape. In that same decade, the Jesus movement counterculturally answered the call for lasting peace.
- I wonder what people thought about with regard to the significance of what took place just 40 days after Jesus, the Galilean had been crucified. Who would have guessed on a human level, what would came to pass?
- Fishermen were now the leaders of a spiritual movement. Peter, the lead fisherman spoke and almost 3,000 people received the word with gladness.
• Acts 2:46,47 : “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
- Voila! The Church is born and a society stands up and takes notice. Soon the same powers that attempted to destroy Jesus came against the leaders of this new sect.
- In Acts chapter 4, the Sanhedrin brought Peter and John before them and told them that they were to cease and desist speaking in the name of Jesus.
- The disciples reply was that they would obey God, rather than man.
- Just one chapter later, the conflict comes to a head again. The Apostles have been instructed by the Lord to speak in the temple, and they obey.
- Because of their obedience, they are immediately arrested and subsequently, miraculously delivered from prison. The guards did not find them until they looked in the temple where they were teaching in the name of Jesus.
- It was time to have a little discussion to make sure that the point got across.
• Acts 5:27,28 : “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!’”
- In a fit to figure out what to do, the Sanhedrin sought to consider an action that would deal with this new sect of Judaism.
- Upon their second meeting with these apostles, the religious leaders took their usual default position, which was to conspire to murder. This is when one of their own respected leaders spoke up.
- Gamaliel, a Pharisee and an experienced teacher of the law, stood up and reasoned with this council of people.
• Acts 5:38,39 : “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God.’”
- The Sanhedrin chose to beat the Apostles and send them out, which garnered this response from the Apostles:
• Acts 5:41,42 : “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
- Now, seated in the background was a young fly on the wall Pharisee that was taking all of this in. His name was Saul.
- He is captured in this context, in this burgeoning conflict between the religious establishment and this new sect of Judaism. He stands directly in the middle between the old and the new.
- I believe that even in this moment, there is a crisis in the mind of this young man that we need to seek to connect to.
- There were legitimate concerns and questions that likely began at this moment that began the future apostle on a road that would change his destiny and our world forever.
- Today, there are Sauls in our midst. They are watching and wondering if what they have lived for is worth continuing in. They are wondering what reality and life is really about.
- What was Saul seeing that might have moved him to reconsider his stance in life? What will the Sauls in your life need to see to make them reconsider the reality of Christ?
- Saul saw three indisputable characteristics that these Apostles exemplified, that we should seek to adopt as well. Saul saw that
I. They Touched Lives (Acts 3:1-7)
II. They Talked Jesus (Acts 4:7-12)
III. They Totally Obeyed (Acts 5:27-29)
TextII. They Talked Jesus (Acts 4:7-12)
III. They Totally Obeyed (Acts 5:27-29)
I. They Touched Lives (Acts 3:1-7)
• Acts 3:1-7 : “Now, Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Peter and John still followed Jewish tradition, going daily to the temple for prayer. They did not yet view themselves as distinct from Judaism.
- However, it was their actions toward this man, that distinguished them from those in Judaism.
- As they came to this gate, they encountered a lame man that would normally be ignored.
- He was a beggar, who made his living right there on the steps leading up to the temple.
- Peter walked toward this person and engaged him. Notice, He fixed his eyes on him.
- This beggar was not a drunk. Nor was he a criminal who was attempting to employ his poverty for free provisions, as is often the case today.
- This man was a legitmate sufferer. In these types of situations, the easiest thing to do is to avert our eyes from human suffering.
- Peter fixed his eyes on this man and offered to give him what he had. Notice those words: “What I do have, I give you.”
- That to me is the essence of Christianity, when we talk about the relation of our faith to the watching Sauls of this world. We may not have money, but what we do have is prayer and kindness.
- We may not have the answers, but we can offer support and solace.
- We might not have power, but we have Jesus and Jesus is what this man needed!
- It’s unfortunate that as Christians, we often dwell on what we don’t have and make excuses for not employing what we do have for the service of Christ. Peter was willing to give what he had.
- Notice that Peter says, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This was done with His authority and for His glory. It’s akin to saying, “Jesus gives me power to do this and I do this on His behalf.” Later, Paul will explicitly deal with this concept.
- Turn with me to II Corinthians 5:18. Paul has just told the Corinthian believers that they have been “re-created” to perform a specific task on the Earth.
• II Corinthians 5:18-20 : “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”
- Now, this agrees with Christ’s words to His disciples. Turn with me to Matthew 5:14. Jesus in the sermon on the mount says:
• Matthew 5:14-16 : “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
- These are His arms, His hands, His legs, etc. He employs my body to exercise His will in this world!
- I want to respond to the needs of the spiritually lame with the same treatment. For the sake of Jesus, because His love compels me, I touch, pray for, your life, your healing, your heart to be ministered to.
- Let me suggest that this story would really lose all of it’s excitement if Peter did what we often do. What if Peter had responded this way: “Oh, I’ll be sure to pray for you. I’m sure it’s difficult to be lame!”
- No! Peter touched this man. He personally allowed the Lord to heal and minister to this man through him.
II. They Talked Jesus (Acts 4:7-12)
• Acts 4:7-12 : “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’” : The religious people were always intriqued by the source of good things. They questioned Jesus in the same way in Matthew 21:23, Mark 11:28 and John 2:18.
- Peter without blinking an eye, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks of where his authority and power came from: Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
- Before they could stop him, Peter rattled off several facts that needed to be heard.
- They had crucified Jesus. They had rejected Jesus. The religious leaders present were torn and befuddled, for they offer no argument.
- Then Peter utters a great line that is worthy of our memorization: Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved!
- Turn to Philippians 2. Paul talks about Jesus being the paradigm of humility, having come from heaven to earth, taking the form of a bondservant. But it would not remain that way.
• Philippians 2:9-11 : “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
- Men, there is power only in the name of Jesus. He is not your higher power, the big guy upstairs, or your enlightened teacher. He is Jesus and these men mentioned Jesus Christ at every opportunity.
- Imagine if you brought Jesus Christ into your conversations as more an authority and less a curse word! Of course, this group would not be guilty of that, but is that all that the Sauls around your life hear of His name?
- What if they heard, “Our business is doing well and I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for that.”
- “I used to struggle with that until I received Jesus Christ into my life…” Oh, one might object, that you don’t want to sound fanatical. Let me ask you: WHY NOT!?
- Why are we so afraid to speak up or stand out? The Sauls of the world are watching, and if you fit in, why would they be challenged to consider Christ?
- If nothing makes you different, then the Sauls of this world will never take notice! But the apostles were different and Saul DID notice! Take a look at verse
• 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.”
- Do the Sauls around you have the same opinion? Does your speech betray an intimacy with Jesus Christ?
III. They Totally Obeyed (Acts 5:27-29, 42)
• Acts 5:27-29 : “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men…' And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Coming into chapter 5, the disciples have been brought again to the council. I would love to have seen this conflict. “Did we not strictly command you…”
- Who did these people think that they were? They had never been challenged, and they were used to calling the proverbial shots.
- Listen again to their indictment: You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine! What an awesome statement!
- At the time of this writing here in chapter 5, the church had expanded from the initial 3,000 in Acts 2:41 to 8.000 according to Acts 4:4. This was a mega church movement!
- The apostles were threatened and ordered to discontinue their efforts. They would not budge. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Oh to have men like this!!
- This was their mantra, their modus operandi! This was their statement to the council the first time, recorded in chapter 4:19,20. This is their statement yet again.
- What a statement to make in the presence of the proverbial Sauls of life. These guys aren’t going to play by these rules!
- They are going to obey God rather than man, and not flirt with or sleep with women that aren’t their wives!
- They are going to obey God rather than man, and not honor the code of unwritten conduct that compromises their character.
- Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that the councilmen had the disciples beaten. And they rejoiced. They were glad that they were counted worthy to suffer. And then we see verse 42.
- Daily in the temple, out in the open or in every house, in private, they obeyed the word of the Lord totally! They did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ!
- You can’t tell me that this did not impact Saul! Further, you can’t tell me that it won’t impact the Saul watching your life. “Nothing will stop this guy from obeying God!”
Conclusion
- When we think about Sauls watching, we have to remember what a great opportunity that we have as men to be men like this.
- Today we can choose to reach out and touch lives. It probably won’t be miraculous, but you can pray for healing anyway! It might not be powerful, but a hand on the shoulder in Jesus name works wonders!
- Today, we can choose to relay Jesus with how we speak. Is He getting the glory for your success? Is He getting the press He deserves?
- But more than anything, if we cannot say anything, we can obey totally, and that says it all!
1 comment:
1) The Apostles touched lives. They made an impact and offered what it was that they had. What are some practical methods that we can employ that will help us to emulate this principle today? Please share experiences where you have benefitted from another who has been willing to let the Lord "touch your life" through them.
2) The Apostle talked Jesus. Jesus was frequently on their lips. How can we increase our verbal witness in today's world? What barriers do we face practically and subsequently, what solutions have you found that help you maintain a verbal commitment to be a witness of Christ?
3) The Apostles totally obeyed. No matter what they were told by the council, their heart was to totally obey the commands of Christ. What conflicts are there today that present themselves against the call of Christ? How have you learned to navigate through such difficulties?
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