Acts Chapter 5:17-42

Even when things go bad even when things go poorly. You need to rejoice Christian should be filled with joy are Christians known for rejoicing were known for being silent as our unbaptized inventor and you know what God never intended that he intended us to be filled with joy that was so contagious that the world would say what happened, something something different about what you have, what is we should be filled with joy and certainly can always find a reason not to be filled with joy and everyone of us could have a reasonably good list is more like it should be filled with joy because of XYZ, but you always have a reason where you can be thankful praise God always which we focus often as believers we look at the world will actually stop and think you know I got God has put us right in the middle of a bunch of people that don't know now there's an opportunity to share the love of God but don't yet know welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today. Pastor David explains why we should be filled with joy as he continues in the book of acts chapter 5 is David McKee with part two of the teaching. The work of God continues. Acts chapter 5 verse 17 is a priest rose up, and all those who are willing, which is the sect of the Sadducees and they were filled with indignation and laying hands their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison line and angle of the Lord opened the prison doors, and brought them out to go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life is 21 and when they heard that they entered the temple early in the morning and tall, but the high priest and those with him came and called the Council, together with all the elders of the children of Israel sent them to the prison to have them brought now.

The prison, I want you to notice what they did. They went and hid access. They went and they were afraid for their lives and they found that God they went back to the example either these guys have the most serious case of short-term memory that we've ever observed in men. God, they didn't care about the meeting about prison.

They went back to some significant in that for us. If you are here this morning and you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins human suffering human set free from prison, far worse than a steel or concrete even set free from prison, depression, anger, bitterness, hostility, loneliness, bondage of all sorts. You've been set free, why have you been set free. Same reason and Park Hotel others in part because God loves you. But once you've been set free. We should be doing. Tell people everybody deserves a chance to hear the gospel and that's what these guys are doing. They were afraid of being in prison. They were afraid of being beaten up. They went back to the temple's reimbursement.

But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison they returned and reported sink. Indeed, we found the prison shut secure purely in the guard standing outside before the doors only hope no one inside. Verse 24 now when the high priest the captain of the temple, the chief priests are these things, they wondered what the outcome would be 25. So, one came and told them sent the men whom he put in prison. Understanding the temple teaching God is.

Can you imagine you know you're here. These religious hypocrites and that means people that all about the walnut about Jesus had explained that because they really became extinct several years ago right okay so these religions have these guys in presently present turn around and it's like like what is biology, keep coming back keep coming back up. I got you doing prison shut him up, Jesus in the temple. Jesus coming. God is God's cool.

God's awesome verse 26 then the captain went with offices and brought them without violence, for they feared the people they should be stoned and when they had brought them. They set them before the Council and the high priest asked him know before we continue to look at old people and you said I'm going you in prison, fertility, body, and and you lock them up Sunday appeared again in the same place. Tell people about Jesus again when you lost a scratch her head to go when you see these people have become so hypocritical and so unaware of their own sinful condition that they were so focused on what was going outside of them that they became friend literally stupid, they became stupid. They became ignorant about what was going all around to understand.

I can do that you can do that.

We get so concerned with what's going on around us, that we forget what God is trying to do through us and in us and that's what happens here in verse 27 how present something. Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name and look you have filled Jerusalem with your doctor and intend to bring this man's blood on your attention please.

Awesome. Verse what an awesome accusation you're filling Jerusalem with your doctor and you want the blood of this man, Jesus, you want the blood of Jesus only absolutely may this be the accusation. People around here have that were filling the tribe with our… Our doctrine, the biblical doctrine. When Jesus had to say may not be the accusation that we will Jesus's blood on people not literally. That's an analogy of your will symbolic that we want people to be for Devon by the blood Jesus shed on the cross. I want that I desire that you know what God is doing that here God is using us and if you're here, and of your praying for us. Praying for me in praying for this ministry and in your servant and your given are you doing any of the above God using us to reach the world. God using us to bring God's doctrine to touch people to move around the world. Maybe stimuli are using talk about that time about inviting people claim the gospel that you know when you quit that when everybody hears and until the whole world hears about a man now notice what they're doing there. Keep the main thing the main thing, the doctrine and in Jesus. The blood of Jesus covering the simply keep the main thing the main thing in verse 29 Peter and the other apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men.

So Peter continues with the seeker friendly message, the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging elementary in God is exalted to his right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin your attention please. I want to know some as Peter says we ought to obey God rather than men.

We need to understand, Peter is engaged in what we call civil disobedience.

He has been disobedient to these authorities because he's being obedient to God we need understand something, because I met a lot of people some of us try to think of a more loving term claps their quacks and they come out saying you know you don't do this don't do that.

Don't make the government don't do this and you notice like nonsense, is now in every you're going to be disobedient to the government, which is illegal to make sure that you have strong scriptural evidence in strong, silent, scriptural reasons for doing why because we tend to be rebellious by nature and we tend to look for reasons any excuses to be disobedient to civil authorities and rarely do we really come up with a legitimate reason here in United States and overseas here here in the Islamic controlled country in their same don't share your faith. Share your faith be civilly disobedient, but if you disobedient to welcoming learning why the circle not only civil authorities but if you're going to be disobedient to your boss be disobedient to to your husband or in a family.

To be disobedient to a pastor spiritual leader.

Make sure you have solid scriptural evidence for doing not feeling known and another point to in verse .2 chapter say this is a problem.

Peter mentions obeying God.

What are some of the ways that we are to obey God couple real quick.

Number one is study, read and obey the Bible God gave us a spot God gave us his book. He uses man to give us this book. But God is the one that gave us his books will be in this book every day night is Sunday tonight is Thursdays but every day. Second thing we end up being an involved part of a church guys guy came up with the concept of the church. That's not something man invented and yes occasionally the church gets whacked out or you know the church as a whole gets off as they did in the Middle Ages, but God always.

When that happens in the large-scale housecleaning and you know what is and in music Re: involuntary engaged here or you know what I go under is nothing like him in the numbers of all banal you start writing less this incredible commitment. Note coming to church is a great start to great start but that's what it is is a great start, and over time you should find yourself more engaged in serving God and participating in things are going on 13 be a good steward not just finances includes finances but you know what we are the vessels that God is using in the work of the ministry you want to use your gifts your talents and your resources in order to help us reach people to be good stewards of what God is giving and enforcing be baptized, be baptized if you were baptized again as an infant need to be baptized since you've made a commitment to Jesus and again Peter keeps talking about the same thing with you, salvation, salvation Peter speaking to people that have yet to receive yes you will. Jesus as their Messiah is the machine sheet as as the one who will save them from their sin.

That's an important thing in you'll notice if you been here for very long. Every Sunday morning the gospel is presented in it weaves its way into the message because it's throughout the book anyway and most Thursday nights the gospel because it's important it's it's the first day out and walking with the Lord. It's what it's an aside about what you can do for God. It's about what God is very done. He died for you on the cross and you could be forgiven that you could start a life and have a relationship with him. You're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior.

You need people to pray for you need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's were to appear on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simple going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey guys want to take just a minute to pray for some cities in our listening audience.

Specifically, Ashland Oregon and Baker city Brookings Canyon Ville Cave Junction, Cloverdale, and Colton Lowy. Thank you for the cities and everyone listening.

We pray that you would pour out your spirit on these broadcast audiences. Father we pray that pastors would have wisdom in the cities and how to love their communities.

Lord I pray that people would put their trust in you got. I pray that you would give the governmental leaders wisdom and discernment that you would protect the city's father there be peace in the cities and Lord, that your word would be high and lifted up in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse 12 see how they react in verse 33 when they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill. So, not necessarily a good response or something.

Peter had a choice, Peter given a watered-down version of the truth. Peter could've not said anything even disobedient to God, but he wouldn't have gotten beat up back in prison. Those things would've happened. Peter made a decision and sometimes we get the illusion that Christianity had thought about asking that's out the picture that the Bible paints occasionally there's things I saying here is things I say in meetings that letter filled with truth somewhat confrontational and I know that I could if I chose I could not say that.

But then I would be disobedient to the Lord and and so I'm not I'm not gonna watered-down the truth I go commando well, you know, there might be more ways than those of the circle and think about you know that I mean I'm that's what you're looking for love. Sorry not funny here. I care enough about you and I want to be obedient enough to God that I want to share the truth. That's what Peter was doing the answers they want to kill any know that it's interesting, sometimes anything. I guess you get glimpses in the store ministry and encouraging you're not sometimes I'll sit with and I can be their best friend. When will you know within the next week I'm there worst enemy and their leaving weird emails and stuff and you know happens it happened.

Paul says this in Galatians 416 says that I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth if you're sharing the truth with the money they have a decision to make. Some of them will get angry. Some of them will receive praise God were supposed to be speaking the truth now see what happens next. Verse 34. Then one in the Council stood up, a Pharisee named Emma Leo the teacher of the law, how to respect all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles aside for little else we wanted a private meeting is respectful. Gambling is got some wisdom but I'm serious problem with verse 35 and he said to them, men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, it what you intend to do regarding these men for some time ago see it is Rosa claiming to be somebody a number of men about 400, joined he was slain in all they do more scattered and came enough. After this man Judas of Galilee. This is not the Judas that was rose up in the days of the census and drooling many people after him and he also perished and all obeyed and were dispersed and now I say to you, keep away from these men. Let them alone for this plan, or this work is of men come to nothing. But if it is of God.

You cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God. No, I appreciate the Council would generally be honest, I'm for a long time I thought good guys. So with any minimum the majority commentators or read about the past and was generally less offensive.

The decision was to receive Jesus as a Savior and he comes off of this was way that's never a wise decision because you never know what tomorrow holds, not a doom and gloom preacher. I don't do the thing were you drive out here and get hit by car by train or whatever. There is a reality in also promises that we have in this word you seminars on Gaza scene painfully been in meetings were also a week later I'm getting news that some I not meeting is no longer here. Don't be offensive to God is here this morning because he's working on hearts.

He's offering each and every one of us, nothing less than himself his life. He's willing to make the exchange. Think about is willing to make the exchange with us to trade in your life and receive his life. What an amazing offer friend you'll never get an offer like that again somebody this morning showed up and said hey I want to give your car it's it's new it's it's right out front. Here's the key. Well I don't know.

Wait till tomorrow. I'm a bit closer to accepting the Carlo I hear that you know about it except the Lord but I'm a little bit closer, could you not heard it once again women friends.

You hear the gospel that Jesus Christ died for yourself and if you leave here today without accepting that are coming to him. You're not one step closer you're one step further away because once again, you've heard the truth you've heard the love of God presented to and you decided to turn away walk with. That's not a good place to be and I have to tell you because I care enough about the people here to save and gamble he was in a very dangerous place a friend and I hope that is not where you are on the way to make a decision to David went away verse 40 and they agreed with them and when they called for the apostles and be they commanded them that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. So they beat him again just being silly. I mean either their anisette and let them go or are there guilty and thrown in jail. But they beat him and then they let him go get this just so certainly they go and how this time.

Verse 41, so they department from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name I'm convicted. I mean, I can bet that and get there with us through thing and in you know this windows like cummerbund up and in and then out is looking at this passage so convicted because these guys get beat up and walk away smiling like what is spiritual where that's pretty transparent is not what you probably want to hear about your pastor, but yeah I mean I know I'm not just appear be don't do that sometime I need to do this and friend. You need to do, even when things go back even when things go poorly. You need to rejoice, you need to rejoice the life lesson Christian should be filled with joy. They should be filled with joy. Now let me ask you question.

Are Christians known for rejoicing were known for being sour dower and baptize inventor and you know what God never intended that he intended us to be filled with joy that was so contagious that the world would say what happened, something something different about you. I will what you have, what is we should be filled with joy and certainly can always find a reason not to be filled with joy and everyone of us can have a reason we can list is more like it should be filled with joy because of XYZ, but you always have a reason where you can be thankful praise God always which we focus. You've probably heard the stories, there's two shoe salesman to go to this tropical island and note the soldiers and and one email, faxes, and there's no opportunity here that nobody were shoes or the cycling emails back and says manners credible opportunity here is where fusion often as believers we look at the world will little world will actually stop and think you know I got God has put us right in the middle of a bunch of people that don't know. And now there's an opportunity to share the love of God with some people that don't yet know that's rejoicing and we can rejoice because of what Jesus did for us, and certainly can find reasons not to rejoice, but you can certainly find reasons to rejoice in verse 42 and daily in the temple, and in every house. I did cease did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ teaching and preaching the word preacher in the Greek is eventually so or means evangelize or proclaim to reach if you will and and that's cool because you know what our thing here reach and teach. If all I do every Sunday morning is give another gospel message than the people who've already receive Jesus can't grow. They sent her to go. Okay, I got this part may not get on the same 20 years. I got this, how to grow so there needs to be that teaching and that reaching and that's what we do here or socially making disciples what that means is that we reach out to unbelievers. We see them become believers and then we want to see the believers become disciples got this is a simple as against and it's as complicated as unbeliever believer disciple, how do you become a believer. Well it's all long process with like a 12 page form if you're interested in, fill it out after certain the religious ceremony. You do some be baptized to communion yet to be sorry for long enough, you reach many chapters asked asking to forgive you of your donors are asking to give you the power to set friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio to the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you'd like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com.

Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out to cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan and thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. The David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today, cross the bridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts