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14 Acts 4:23-31 - Benevolent Despot
Title: Benevolent Despot
Text: Acts 4:23-31
FCF: We often struggle depending on God fully.
Prop: Because God is absolutely sovereign and our source for all we need to obey Him, we must depend on God.
Scripture Intro: NIV
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 4.
Today we will officially conclude this lengthy narrative in the book of Acts. It began in chapter 3 with the healing of a crippled man. Peter preached a sermon to those who stood confounded by the miracle. Peter and John were arrested and tried before the Sanhedrin, where Peter, filled with the Spirit, made a stunning defense of the gospel of Christ. The Sanhedrin, though still overcome by unbelief could not deny the miracle and so they sentenced Peter and John to stop preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Peter responded letting them know that that wasn’t going to happen. They threatened them further and released them.
The conclusion of this narrative is the response of the church to all that has happened. We might expect joy, or many sticking out of tongues, crying neener neener you can’t catch me. Instead, we find a much more edifying and remarkable response by our spiritual ancestors.
I am in Acts chapter 4. I’ll begin reading in verse 23. I am reading from the NIV today, but you can follow along in the pew bible starting on page 1233 or in your preferred version.
Transition:
[Slide 2] Have you ever heard of the four-watermelon problem? The four-watermelon problem is the fact that we can’t catch four watermelons when they are tossed at us one at a time. One is simple enough. Two means one for each hand. A third we can stack on top of the two we are holding. But how do you catch the fourth one? The four-watermelon problem is a way we discuss the paradoxical nature of truths about God. The reason our brains strain to understand the things of God. For example: Jesus is fully God. Easy enough. Jesus is not God the Father. Easy peasy. God the Holy Spirit is not the Son or the Father. Got it so far? Good. God is one. Annnnnd ya lost me. Today we will deal with another four-watermelon problem. God is all knowing. Easy. Some of you even know that the big word for that is omniscient. Well done. Number 2, God is all powerful. Easy! Omnipotent. Nice! God is the definition of good meaning all He does is good. No issues so far Chris. Toss me that 4th watermelon! Evil pervades the world, men die and go to hell, and God’s people are rejected and abused. Annnnnd ya lost me. You see there is a logical disconnect between these three attributes of God and the fact that there is wickedness in the world. But just like we know that God is Triune, 1 being in 3 persons, so also, we know that there must be an explanation for how God is all good, all knowing, and all powerful, and yet sin and death continue in the world. How can we explain it without sacrificing any of these attributes? That is the real question. And today, our early spiritual ancestors pray a prayer to God with their perspective on how this all works out. What did they believe was the answer? Let’s look.
I.) God is absolutely Sovereign having full authority and control over His creation, so we must depend on God. (23-27)
a. [Slide 3] 23-24 – On their release, Peter and John went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
i. As soon as Peter and John were released by the Sanhedrin, they immediately went back to their own.
ii. That is where the Greek text ends. However most English translations supply some kind of word to identify exactly who their own are.
iii. Friends, companions, fellow believers, people – all of these are used. Most likely Luke refers to the church as a whole. Perhaps not every single member but a large portion of it.
iv. Probably they were standing in Solomon’s porch waiting for the trial to conclude and praying for God to work in the situation.
v. After hearing that the Sanhedrin commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, threatened to punish them if they did, but in the end, sent them away without any penalty, the church erupts in unified prayer to God.
vi. This probably doesn’t mean that all of them prayed at once the exact same thing. More likely 1 person prayed and they all joined with them.
vii. What they pray is truly remarkable.
b. [Slide 4] “Sovereign Lord” they said, “YOU MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING IN THEM.
i. They begin by addressing God as the sovereign lord.
ii. This is not your typical word to refer to God or Lord or master. Most of the time the Greek word used is kurios. However, here the word is despota.
iii. From this word we get our English word despot or despotism.
iv. In English we use the word despot or despotism to refer to someone who has absolute authority and uses it to be cruel or oppressive.
v. It is clear that only part of the meaning of the English word comes from the Greek.
vi. Instead, this word emphasizes the absolute authority, power, and control of God.
vii. We must conclude that this is what they meant by calling Him Despota, because of the psalm they quote afterward.
viii. This is quoted from Psalm 146:6. But it would be profitable for us to go and read the entire psalm to understand what they might have in mind here.
1. Why might they quote this verse here? Why might they refer to this psalm?
2. They just had a tussle with princes and rulers did they not? The will of the ruler is to muzzle the Christians. They want to keep them from preaching in the name of Jesus.
3. But God is the creator. His power exceeds men because He created them. He frustrates the plans of the wicked. He allows them to plan, but twists, bends, and alters all they do to His own will.
ix. They respond to the news that the Sanhedrin told them to stop preaching in Jesus’ name by confessing that God is King and Owner of all creation. And that what He wills will override the plans of the wicked.
c. [Slide 5] 25-26 – 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? THE KINGS OF THE EARTH RISE UP AND THE RULERS BAND TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED ONE.
i. Their prayer continues by focusing on the rebellion of those who are not God’s people.
ii. They see the Sanhedrin’s words as fulfillment of what was spoken of in the Old Testament.
iii. Here David’s words of Psalm 2 are described as Spirit Given. They are inspired words. Which we knew already of course.
iv. In this psalm we see the nations rage against the absolute authority and control of Yahweh over His creation.
v. They do not simply rage because He is the final authority – they rage because no matter what they try, they will ultimately submit to His Son. Either to their comfort or their destruction.
vi. Let’s go ahead and read Psalm 2. It is short enough for us to see it in its full context.
vii. After reading through this, the interesting thing about this psalm is that the early church is quoting it of their time. We might see it as still in the future and I don’t think we’d be wrong to do so. But they saw it as fulfilled in their present with Christ standing against the rulers of the world.
viii. Again, I don’t think it is wrong to view it that way. Many of these prophesies will have several layers of fulfillment.
d. [Slide 6] 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.
i. They continue in their prayer recounting how the nations did gather against God’s Anointed One.
ii. Jesus the Messiah was surrounded by Herod (a Jew) Pontius Pilate (a Gentile) and many other gentiles and people of Israel.
iii. This shows us very clearly how these Jewish believers came to view themselves in light of the rest of Judaism.
iv. In psalm 2, the traditional interpretation of the nations and peoples would have been together the Gentiles. However, what is clear, is that in this New Covenant community, the nations are the Gentiles and the people are Jews who have rejected Jesus.
v. The early church saw a shift in Judaism. Old Testament passages that describe God’s people are consistently reinterpreted and applied to those who believe on Jesus. Which will very soon start including Gentiles.
vi. On the other side, Gentiles and other peoples are consistently reinterpreted and applied to those who reject Jesus. Meaning that being Jewish or of the line of Abraham is no longer enough to inherit the promises reserved for Israel. Only those who believe on Jesus are now true Israel.
e. [Slide 7] 28 – They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
i. God had purposed and predestined His Son to be crushed for the iniquities of His people.
ii. And so, God accomplished His will by the opposition of the Gentiles. By the rage of the kings. By the mob of people shouting crucify Him. God accomplished all he set out to do.
iii. For all their raging against God, trying desperately to have their own way and not His… they were putty in His hand as He accomplished by His power and will what He had predestined… through their rage itself.
f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: The opening of this prayer of the church, in response to the persecution and the unlawful commands of the Sanhedrin, is a theological confession of the sovereignty of God. That even when God looks like He is losing, He is accomplishing His purposes. That He laughs at those who rage against His will. He scoffs at those who think they can beat him. In this prayer it is abundantly clear that God has absolute authority and control of His entire creation. From the dying of stars to the wills of men and everything in between, God exercises Sovereign dominion over all.
Transition:
[Slide 9 (blank)] But all of this prayer so far has been theological introduction. They are simply stating who God is. What is their request? What are they seeking from the Lord? They are seeking three things. Protection, Provision, and God’s Power.
II.) God supplies protection, provision, and power to His people to do His will, so we must depend on God (28-31)
a. [Slide 10] 29 – Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
i. Here they recognize that the opposition to Jesus the Messiah is still happening.
ii. That they gathered around Him to crucify Him, but that wasn’t the end of the story.
iii. They still rage, they still oppose.
iv. So, the church looks to the Lord and hands Him the threats of those who oppose His church.
v. They do not themselves take note of the threats. They do not rage against the rage.
vi. The do not stand against those who stand against the Lord.
vii. Instead, they ask the Lord to consider their threats.
viii. What does this mean? Are they asking for the Lord to do something here?
ix. Probably they are asking for the Lord to prevent the threats from coming true. They are asking the Lord to keep them from the threats of the Sanhedrin.
x. But that is not all they ask.
xi. You see they ask the Lord to consider the threats, but even if He doesn’t prevent those threats from becoming reality… they still ask for something else.
xii. They ask the Lord to help them to speak what He has commanded them to speak with confidence.
xiii. Ask what you will Lord but grant whatever you ask.
xiv. This is what they say. You have given us a message to tell to the nations, but the nations rage against it.
xv. Help us to be bold against their rage. Help us to speak your word in spite of their threats.
b. [Slide 11] 30 – Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
i. They put forward a third request.
ii. They ask for the signs and wonders to continue.
iii. They ask this so that the authentication of the truth will continue.
iv. So that they will not be able to be dismissed or to be ignored.
v. They ask this so, similar to Peter and John, those who oppose them will not be able to refute that what they are doing is from God and God alone.
vi. That way, when the preach in Jesus’ name, those who oppose them must take both together or at least be forced to deny Christ.
vii. The time for ignorance is over.
c. [Slide 12] 31 – After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken,
i. Remember they prayed with one accord.
ii. All of them were of the same mind desiring the same things.
iii. They all considered themselves dependent on the Lord to continue to boldly defy the order to not speak in Jesus’ name.
iv. They all desired the signs and wonders to continue to confound those who would oppose them.
v. They all believed that the God of all things was more than capable of toppling kingdoms and bringing the nations to, as the psalm says, kiss the son.
vi. Yet they know that that may not be the case. They know this because it was God’s will to crush His Son. If this is true, it may be that God’s will may include their own suffering and death. For a disciple is not greater than his master.
vii. So, they need boldness.
viii. After they earnestly, seriously, and sincerely seek this from the Sovereign Lord – the earth began to quake.
ix. Probably not an earthquake or anything that could be felt outside of where they were. But the power of God rocked the earth on which they stood.
x. Although this was probably just a side effect of what really happened to them…
d. [Slide 13] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
i. Here we see again Luke differentiating the baptism of the Spirit from the filling of the Spirit.
ii. The filling of the Spirit is not the same as the baptism or indwelling of the Spirit.
iii. The baptism or indwelling of the Spirit comes upon believers at the moment of their conversion and does not leave them. For they are sealed by Him until the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
iv. However, the filling of the Spirit seems to be a temporary occurrence.
v. In the book of Acts so far, Peter has overtly been said to have been filled by the Holy Spirit twice. And assuming he is also filled with the Spirit at this event, this would be his third time being filled with the Holy Spirit.
vi. But what happens when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit?
e. [Slide 14] And spoke the word of God boldly.
i. Here we see that their prayers were answered.
ii. They all began to speak the Word of God with confidence.
iii. This is not a prophetic gift – meaning it was not receiving new revelation or predicting the future.
iv. This is not the gift of tongues – a miraculous ability to speak in languages that you have not formally learned.
v. This is not the gift of healing – where you can restore someone’s health.
vi. This is not the gift of miracles – where you can raise the dead to life.
vii. Instead, this is taking God’s word that is already written, and speaking it boldly.
viii. Before, Peter gave an answer to the Sanhedrin after having been filled with the Spirit and they noticed that he was confident despite lacking the authority to speak on the subject matter.
ix. Before that, Peter was filled with the Spirit to deliver a sermon.
x. The filling of the Holy Spirit is closely connected to the Old Testament’s idea of the Spirit coming upon someone.
xi. The Spirit would come upon them so they could accomplish a mighty task that they would not normally be able to do.
xii. Therefore, filling of the Spirit, need not always be abundantly miraculous.
xiii. As it is here, it is simply supplying boldness to speak the Word of God.
f. [Slide 15] Summary of the Point: The point made at the end of their prayer is contingent to the point made at the beginning. God has all authority and control over His creation. Therefore, they are dependent on His will, His provision, and His power to accomplish the mission that He has given them. They ask that He protect, provide, and empower them to do as He has asked. The overarching emphasis of their prayer is simply this. God’s people are completely dependent on Him to do what He has commanded of them.
Conclusion:
And so, CBC, it is easy for us to see the doctrinal takeaway left for us by the prayer of these early saints. What can we learn from the way our spiritual ancestors prayed to our God?
Doctrinal Takeaway:
[Slide 16] We must be wholly and completely dependent on God for all things because God has all authority and control over His creation and is the sole provider of protection, provision, and power for His people to do as He has commanded them. Another way to say this, is that we are wholly helpless, even in Christ, to do all that God has required of us. For there are too many forces at work against us including earthly powers and our own fears and failures. We need His omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent hand to equip us to succeed at what He has called us to do and who He has called us to be. This is why our repentance and faith does not end at conversion. We continue to repent of our trust in ourselves and depend on Him alone. For if we trust in ourselves, we will fail.
This doctrinal takeaway improves itself toward us in several applications.
1.) [Slide 17] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must believe that we are not able, even after conversion, to do as God has commanded us.
a. This does not mean that we are somehow unacceptable to God.
b. Nor does this mean that we live in a constant state of self-deprecation because we are never good enough.
c. Remember, there is now no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)
d. But it does mean that without Christ’s continued mediation (I Timothy2:5) , we cannot be what God desires us to be.
e. In Hebrews 11:6, the scriptures say that without faith it is impossible to please God. We cannot expect to perform righteous deeds for our God without ultimately looking to Him to provide what we need to do them.
f. In Hebrews 4:16 we see that we can boldly approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace for a time of need. Again, the scriptures assume that we will need God’s grace to enable us to succeed.
g. John 15 Jesus Himself tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches and without Him, we can do nothing.
h. In Philippians 2:11-12 we see that we must work out our own salvation – this is true. But with fear and trembling because God provides to us the desire or will to obey Him and even the power or ability to obey Him.
i. And in this passage we see a church fresh off a victory, but knowing that they are not equipped to press on and continue to preach the Word of God boldly. They know that they can’t do the miracles. They know that they can’t stop the Sanhedrin. In short, they are helpless.
j. As are we all. We are all helpless to do as God asks of us, unless He grants what He commands.
2.) [Slide 18] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must reject the teaching that God is not in control but we are.
a. There is a teaching being pushed in many churches that attempts to redefine God’s Sovereignty. One noteworthy and popular pastor who claims to be an apostle named Bill Johnson of the Bethel church in Redding California has said, “God is in charge but He is not in control. He has left us in control.” There are so many Red flags to Bill Johnson and his church and the Bethel movement in general called the New Apostolic Reformation… I don’t have time to get into them this morning. And I fear that even people who might disagree with the NAR movement might be inclined to agree with his statement here. So let me address his statement only, leaving aside his other doctrinal issues. I see three primary errors in his short statement here.
b. The first error is that he says God is in charge but. You see already there is a problem by simply including an antithetical conjunction. If God is truly in charge, then there is no but. I’ve heard some say that Kings are sovereigns over their own nations – but that doesn’t mean they can stop people from doing what they want to do. In other words, kings can punish others for violating their will, but they cannot stop them. This works fine when we speak of human sovereigns. But the example quickly disintegrates when we try to apply it to the God of the Universe.
i. The first problem is that God is all powerful, all knowing, and all good. To suggest that God is in charge but… immediately calls into question whether or not God is all three of these.
ii. The second problem is when we start to define what exactly God is in charge of. You see, the psalms that are quoted in this prayer, make it abundantly clear, that God is in charge of all His creation. Which includes among other things… the will of man. We know that because only 3 verses later at the close of the psalm, God is said to frustrate the plans of the wicked. Meaning, he overrides their will. He removes from them what they want. Therefore, if God is in charge of all of His creation… to say God is in charge but… is already erroneous.
c. The second error is the assertion that God is not in control. First, let me just say. What a horrifying thought. God is not in control? Do you REALLY want to believe this? Before we even get to the scriptures that absolutely obliterate this… do we really want to believe that God is not in control?
i. The scriptures say that His will cannot be thwarted (Is 14:27; 46:9-10; Job 42:2).
ii. The scriptures prove over and over that God is able to change the wills of men to accomplish His purpose.
1. What about with Balaam? (Numbers 22-24) Was God not in control of what Balaam said?
2. Paul’s will was to go to Damascus to persecute believers, was God not able to change his will? (Acts 9:1-18)
3. What about when God is specifically said to harden Pharoah’s heart in the Old Testament? (Exodus 9:12; God hardens Pharaoh’s heart a total of 4 times. 5 more times it is in passive voice so at best we are unsure or it is the divine passive. Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart only twice. The third and the 5th time.)
4. Proverbs 21:1 says that the Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, He turns it wherever He wills.
5. Proverbs 16:9 says that men make plans but God directs their steps.
6. If God has changed men’s will to do as He pleased in the past, it does not prove that God always overrides men’s will in every case, but it does prove that He can change men’s will at His discretion.
7. Meaning that God is in control, but does not need to always exercise overriding control. But this is far from saying that God is NOT in control.
iii. To say that God is not in control is the most absurd and most horrifying heresy that has ever entered the mind of men. And it came first through the scaley lips of the serpent. He declared to Eve that God was ultimately not in control. She was able to reach out and get what He kept from her. Some say – SEE! Eve had freedom to choose. I agree completely. But have you ever asked yourself… if God is all knowing and all powerful and all good… why was the serpent there in the first place?
iv. You see my friends. If God is not in control… then we are doomed. How can he guarantee that we can be saved from sin? How can he guarantee that he will be with us to the end of the age. If God is not in control – All His promises are worthless.
d. The third error is the expression that God has left us in control. Meaning, I think, the church. Again, what a terrible thought. Do you see the state of the church today? The visible church is fractured. Many denominations are so far from the gospel that they are actually a different religion. And because the visible church is fractured the invisible church is dispersed. How can we possibly be in control?
i. Is this what the church in Acts did?
ii. If this were true, they would not have prayed for God to pay attention to the threats of the Sanhedrin and ask for boldness. Instead, they would have declared the Sanhedrin destroyed and to seek God for the Spirit’s filling of power.
1. Indeed, that is much of Bill Johnson’s ministry at Bethel and with the NAR… it is to blend New Age and mysticism together to evoke some sort of power from God.
2. It is paganism, where God is merely a means to get power.
iii. My friends, if we were truly in control the world would be far worse than it is. Indeed, it would be over and billions would be dead. We do not have the patience, the mercy, the kindness, the grace, or the compassion to be in control. God has not ceded that to us. He is still seated on the throne. And He will not step down. Not even when we reign with Him will He step down.
3.) [Slide 19] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must prayerfully depend on God’s protection, provision, and empowering.
a. On the one hand, they had every reason to feel confident. Peter and John had stood toe to toe with the Sanhedrin and walked away unscathed.
b. But on the other hand, they had issued some fairly clear threats to punish any who would preach or teach in the name of Jesus.
c. Knowing that God is in complete control and can do as He wishes. Knowing that He can do anything He desires and no one can tell Him no. They asked for protection, provision, and His power.
d. Are we better equipped than they are?
e. Do we need God’s protection, provision, and power any less than they do?
f. I would say we would be wise to follow our spiritual ancestors’ example.
g. We would be wise to cry out to the Lord in dependence to do as He has commanded us.
h. To assume that we can in our own strength, to assume we can protect ourselves by the power of our arms, to assume that we do not need His supernatural power to be and do what He has commanded – is the pinnacle of pride and the opposite of true faith.
i. The just live by faith my friends (Habakkuk 2:4)
j. If we are to be just, we must seek the Lord and trust Him to be just.
k. Are we crying out to the Lord in dependence on a daily basis? Do we seek Him earnestly to supply to us what we need to obey Him?
l. We must! If we do not, at worst we will succeed and think it was by our own strength. And at best we will fail.
4.) [Slide 20] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must resist our natural response of fight or flight.
a. I am no fan of modern psychology.
b. Especially when it attempts to solve man’s problems as if God or the spiritual nature of man did not exist.
c. But psychology has revealed that within most creatures, humans included, we have a predicable response when we face danger. Many call this the fight or flight response.
d. In a sense, we see the early church grapple with these two responses.
e. Although the church could not obey the unlawful command of the Sanhedrin, for they must obey God rather than man – they could have pendulum swung too far and attempted to join with the Zealots to overthrow the Sanhedrin and even Rome itself.
f. Indeed, by AD 66, the Zealots had succeeded in pushing out the Romans from Jerusalem, only to have Titus, the Emperor’s son, lay siege to Jerusalem and destroy the temple in AD 70.
g. What is interesting is that Christians, for the most part, had evacuated Jerusalem by that time. They had not participated in the Zealot’s uprising.
h. The church resisted the urge to fight. They certainly obeyed the Lord. But not with an uprising.
i. And here they ask the Lord to consider the threats of the Sanhedrin.
j. But on the opposite end they knew they must continue to obey the Lord’s commands. They could not hide, nor could they run from their responsibilities. They had to continue to preach the Word in spite of the threats against them. And so, since they could not fight or fly… they sought boldness.
k. We too must resist the urge to fight or flee. Instead, we must seek the Lord to make us courageous for Him.
5.) [Slide 21] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God is in complete control of whatever befalls us and will enable us to do what He has commanded us.
a. The theological core of the church’s response is the dependance on the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God.
b. That God is not only the final authority, but ultimately exercises complete control over His entire creation.
c. This is the basis of their prayer. This is the foundation of their comfort. To know that whatever befalls them, it is not some cosmic accident, nor are God’s hands tied because He can’t tread on men’s wills.
d. Instead, they bank on the fact that God can and does whatever He wills.
e. They trust that doctrinal point so much – that they seek God to change their feelings from fear to hope. To keep making it impossible to dismiss their message. And to protect them from the atrocities they have been promised.
f. All their hope is in whatever He desires to be done. They have given it all to Him.
g. Those who oppose the absolute Sovereignty of God have often criticized the command to pray if God is indeed sovereign. They say why would God command us to pray if He has already planned out what will be.
h. There are two amazing answers to that question.
i. First, in this text, the church went directly to God in prayer confessing that He was Sovereign over all. And that His will will be done. They did not see God’s absolute control as a hindrance to pouring out their heart’s desires to God. Instead, it was the theological catalyst for their prayers.
j. Which brings me to my next answer to the question. If God is not Sovereign and in control of all things. It makes even less sense to pray… Since He is ultimately not truly able to answer our prayers anyway.
k. That is why in practice, every believer when they pray, regardless of what they say they believe, pray as if they believed God was truly in control of all things.
l. [Slide 22 (end)] As J.I. Packer once said, “All Christians believe in divine sovereignty. On our feet we may have arguments about it, but on our knees, we are all agreed.”
m. Praise the Lord that He is in complete control. For we would be doomed if it were not so.
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By Christopher FreemanTitle: Benevolent Despot
Text: Acts 4:23-31
FCF: We often struggle depending on God fully.
Prop: Because God is absolutely sovereign and our source for all we need to obey Him, we must depend on God.
Scripture Intro: NIV
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 4.
Today we will officially conclude this lengthy narrative in the book of Acts. It began in chapter 3 with the healing of a crippled man. Peter preached a sermon to those who stood confounded by the miracle. Peter and John were arrested and tried before the Sanhedrin, where Peter, filled with the Spirit, made a stunning defense of the gospel of Christ. The Sanhedrin, though still overcome by unbelief could not deny the miracle and so they sentenced Peter and John to stop preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Peter responded letting them know that that wasn’t going to happen. They threatened them further and released them.
The conclusion of this narrative is the response of the church to all that has happened. We might expect joy, or many sticking out of tongues, crying neener neener you can’t catch me. Instead, we find a much more edifying and remarkable response by our spiritual ancestors.
I am in Acts chapter 4. I’ll begin reading in verse 23. I am reading from the NIV today, but you can follow along in the pew bible starting on page 1233 or in your preferred version.
Transition:
[Slide 2] Have you ever heard of the four-watermelon problem? The four-watermelon problem is the fact that we can’t catch four watermelons when they are tossed at us one at a time. One is simple enough. Two means one for each hand. A third we can stack on top of the two we are holding. But how do you catch the fourth one? The four-watermelon problem is a way we discuss the paradoxical nature of truths about God. The reason our brains strain to understand the things of God. For example: Jesus is fully God. Easy enough. Jesus is not God the Father. Easy peasy. God the Holy Spirit is not the Son or the Father. Got it so far? Good. God is one. Annnnnd ya lost me. Today we will deal with another four-watermelon problem. God is all knowing. Easy. Some of you even know that the big word for that is omniscient. Well done. Number 2, God is all powerful. Easy! Omnipotent. Nice! God is the definition of good meaning all He does is good. No issues so far Chris. Toss me that 4th watermelon! Evil pervades the world, men die and go to hell, and God’s people are rejected and abused. Annnnnd ya lost me. You see there is a logical disconnect between these three attributes of God and the fact that there is wickedness in the world. But just like we know that God is Triune, 1 being in 3 persons, so also, we know that there must be an explanation for how God is all good, all knowing, and all powerful, and yet sin and death continue in the world. How can we explain it without sacrificing any of these attributes? That is the real question. And today, our early spiritual ancestors pray a prayer to God with their perspective on how this all works out. What did they believe was the answer? Let’s look.
I.) God is absolutely Sovereign having full authority and control over His creation, so we must depend on God. (23-27)
a. [Slide 3] 23-24 – On their release, Peter and John went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
i. As soon as Peter and John were released by the Sanhedrin, they immediately went back to their own.
ii. That is where the Greek text ends. However most English translations supply some kind of word to identify exactly who their own are.
iii. Friends, companions, fellow believers, people – all of these are used. Most likely Luke refers to the church as a whole. Perhaps not every single member but a large portion of it.
iv. Probably they were standing in Solomon’s porch waiting for the trial to conclude and praying for God to work in the situation.
v. After hearing that the Sanhedrin commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, threatened to punish them if they did, but in the end, sent them away without any penalty, the church erupts in unified prayer to God.
vi. This probably doesn’t mean that all of them prayed at once the exact same thing. More likely 1 person prayed and they all joined with them.
vii. What they pray is truly remarkable.
b. [Slide 4] “Sovereign Lord” they said, “YOU MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING IN THEM.
i. They begin by addressing God as the sovereign lord.
ii. This is not your typical word to refer to God or Lord or master. Most of the time the Greek word used is kurios. However, here the word is despota.
iii. From this word we get our English word despot or despotism.
iv. In English we use the word despot or despotism to refer to someone who has absolute authority and uses it to be cruel or oppressive.
v. It is clear that only part of the meaning of the English word comes from the Greek.
vi. Instead, this word emphasizes the absolute authority, power, and control of God.
vii. We must conclude that this is what they meant by calling Him Despota, because of the psalm they quote afterward.
viii. This is quoted from Psalm 146:6. But it would be profitable for us to go and read the entire psalm to understand what they might have in mind here.
1. Why might they quote this verse here? Why might they refer to this psalm?
2. They just had a tussle with princes and rulers did they not? The will of the ruler is to muzzle the Christians. They want to keep them from preaching in the name of Jesus.
3. But God is the creator. His power exceeds men because He created them. He frustrates the plans of the wicked. He allows them to plan, but twists, bends, and alters all they do to His own will.
ix. They respond to the news that the Sanhedrin told them to stop preaching in Jesus’ name by confessing that God is King and Owner of all creation. And that what He wills will override the plans of the wicked.
c. [Slide 5] 25-26 – 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? THE KINGS OF THE EARTH RISE UP AND THE RULERS BAND TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED ONE.
i. Their prayer continues by focusing on the rebellion of those who are not God’s people.
ii. They see the Sanhedrin’s words as fulfillment of what was spoken of in the Old Testament.
iii. Here David’s words of Psalm 2 are described as Spirit Given. They are inspired words. Which we knew already of course.
iv. In this psalm we see the nations rage against the absolute authority and control of Yahweh over His creation.
v. They do not simply rage because He is the final authority – they rage because no matter what they try, they will ultimately submit to His Son. Either to their comfort or their destruction.
vi. Let’s go ahead and read Psalm 2. It is short enough for us to see it in its full context.
vii. After reading through this, the interesting thing about this psalm is that the early church is quoting it of their time. We might see it as still in the future and I don’t think we’d be wrong to do so. But they saw it as fulfilled in their present with Christ standing against the rulers of the world.
viii. Again, I don’t think it is wrong to view it that way. Many of these prophesies will have several layers of fulfillment.
d. [Slide 6] 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.
i. They continue in their prayer recounting how the nations did gather against God’s Anointed One.
ii. Jesus the Messiah was surrounded by Herod (a Jew) Pontius Pilate (a Gentile) and many other gentiles and people of Israel.
iii. This shows us very clearly how these Jewish believers came to view themselves in light of the rest of Judaism.
iv. In psalm 2, the traditional interpretation of the nations and peoples would have been together the Gentiles. However, what is clear, is that in this New Covenant community, the nations are the Gentiles and the people are Jews who have rejected Jesus.
v. The early church saw a shift in Judaism. Old Testament passages that describe God’s people are consistently reinterpreted and applied to those who believe on Jesus. Which will very soon start including Gentiles.
vi. On the other side, Gentiles and other peoples are consistently reinterpreted and applied to those who reject Jesus. Meaning that being Jewish or of the line of Abraham is no longer enough to inherit the promises reserved for Israel. Only those who believe on Jesus are now true Israel.
e. [Slide 7] 28 – They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
i. God had purposed and predestined His Son to be crushed for the iniquities of His people.
ii. And so, God accomplished His will by the opposition of the Gentiles. By the rage of the kings. By the mob of people shouting crucify Him. God accomplished all he set out to do.
iii. For all their raging against God, trying desperately to have their own way and not His… they were putty in His hand as He accomplished by His power and will what He had predestined… through their rage itself.
f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: The opening of this prayer of the church, in response to the persecution and the unlawful commands of the Sanhedrin, is a theological confession of the sovereignty of God. That even when God looks like He is losing, He is accomplishing His purposes. That He laughs at those who rage against His will. He scoffs at those who think they can beat him. In this prayer it is abundantly clear that God has absolute authority and control of His entire creation. From the dying of stars to the wills of men and everything in between, God exercises Sovereign dominion over all.
Transition:
[Slide 9 (blank)] But all of this prayer so far has been theological introduction. They are simply stating who God is. What is their request? What are they seeking from the Lord? They are seeking three things. Protection, Provision, and God’s Power.
II.) God supplies protection, provision, and power to His people to do His will, so we must depend on God (28-31)
a. [Slide 10] 29 – Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
i. Here they recognize that the opposition to Jesus the Messiah is still happening.
ii. That they gathered around Him to crucify Him, but that wasn’t the end of the story.
iii. They still rage, they still oppose.
iv. So, the church looks to the Lord and hands Him the threats of those who oppose His church.
v. They do not themselves take note of the threats. They do not rage against the rage.
vi. The do not stand against those who stand against the Lord.
vii. Instead, they ask the Lord to consider their threats.
viii. What does this mean? Are they asking for the Lord to do something here?
ix. Probably they are asking for the Lord to prevent the threats from coming true. They are asking the Lord to keep them from the threats of the Sanhedrin.
x. But that is not all they ask.
xi. You see they ask the Lord to consider the threats, but even if He doesn’t prevent those threats from becoming reality… they still ask for something else.
xii. They ask the Lord to help them to speak what He has commanded them to speak with confidence.
xiii. Ask what you will Lord but grant whatever you ask.
xiv. This is what they say. You have given us a message to tell to the nations, but the nations rage against it.
xv. Help us to be bold against their rage. Help us to speak your word in spite of their threats.
b. [Slide 11] 30 – Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
i. They put forward a third request.
ii. They ask for the signs and wonders to continue.
iii. They ask this so that the authentication of the truth will continue.
iv. So that they will not be able to be dismissed or to be ignored.
v. They ask this so, similar to Peter and John, those who oppose them will not be able to refute that what they are doing is from God and God alone.
vi. That way, when the preach in Jesus’ name, those who oppose them must take both together or at least be forced to deny Christ.
vii. The time for ignorance is over.
c. [Slide 12] 31 – After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken,
i. Remember they prayed with one accord.
ii. All of them were of the same mind desiring the same things.
iii. They all considered themselves dependent on the Lord to continue to boldly defy the order to not speak in Jesus’ name.
iv. They all desired the signs and wonders to continue to confound those who would oppose them.
v. They all believed that the God of all things was more than capable of toppling kingdoms and bringing the nations to, as the psalm says, kiss the son.
vi. Yet they know that that may not be the case. They know this because it was God’s will to crush His Son. If this is true, it may be that God’s will may include their own suffering and death. For a disciple is not greater than his master.
vii. So, they need boldness.
viii. After they earnestly, seriously, and sincerely seek this from the Sovereign Lord – the earth began to quake.
ix. Probably not an earthquake or anything that could be felt outside of where they were. But the power of God rocked the earth on which they stood.
x. Although this was probably just a side effect of what really happened to them…
d. [Slide 13] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
i. Here we see again Luke differentiating the baptism of the Spirit from the filling of the Spirit.
ii. The filling of the Spirit is not the same as the baptism or indwelling of the Spirit.
iii. The baptism or indwelling of the Spirit comes upon believers at the moment of their conversion and does not leave them. For they are sealed by Him until the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
iv. However, the filling of the Spirit seems to be a temporary occurrence.
v. In the book of Acts so far, Peter has overtly been said to have been filled by the Holy Spirit twice. And assuming he is also filled with the Spirit at this event, this would be his third time being filled with the Holy Spirit.
vi. But what happens when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit?
e. [Slide 14] And spoke the word of God boldly.
i. Here we see that their prayers were answered.
ii. They all began to speak the Word of God with confidence.
iii. This is not a prophetic gift – meaning it was not receiving new revelation or predicting the future.
iv. This is not the gift of tongues – a miraculous ability to speak in languages that you have not formally learned.
v. This is not the gift of healing – where you can restore someone’s health.
vi. This is not the gift of miracles – where you can raise the dead to life.
vii. Instead, this is taking God’s word that is already written, and speaking it boldly.
viii. Before, Peter gave an answer to the Sanhedrin after having been filled with the Spirit and they noticed that he was confident despite lacking the authority to speak on the subject matter.
ix. Before that, Peter was filled with the Spirit to deliver a sermon.
x. The filling of the Holy Spirit is closely connected to the Old Testament’s idea of the Spirit coming upon someone.
xi. The Spirit would come upon them so they could accomplish a mighty task that they would not normally be able to do.
xii. Therefore, filling of the Spirit, need not always be abundantly miraculous.
xiii. As it is here, it is simply supplying boldness to speak the Word of God.
f. [Slide 15] Summary of the Point: The point made at the end of their prayer is contingent to the point made at the beginning. God has all authority and control over His creation. Therefore, they are dependent on His will, His provision, and His power to accomplish the mission that He has given them. They ask that He protect, provide, and empower them to do as He has asked. The overarching emphasis of their prayer is simply this. God’s people are completely dependent on Him to do what He has commanded of them.
Conclusion:
And so, CBC, it is easy for us to see the doctrinal takeaway left for us by the prayer of these early saints. What can we learn from the way our spiritual ancestors prayed to our God?
Doctrinal Takeaway:
[Slide 16] We must be wholly and completely dependent on God for all things because God has all authority and control over His creation and is the sole provider of protection, provision, and power for His people to do as He has commanded them. Another way to say this, is that we are wholly helpless, even in Christ, to do all that God has required of us. For there are too many forces at work against us including earthly powers and our own fears and failures. We need His omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent hand to equip us to succeed at what He has called us to do and who He has called us to be. This is why our repentance and faith does not end at conversion. We continue to repent of our trust in ourselves and depend on Him alone. For if we trust in ourselves, we will fail.
This doctrinal takeaway improves itself toward us in several applications.
1.) [Slide 17] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must believe that we are not able, even after conversion, to do as God has commanded us.
a. This does not mean that we are somehow unacceptable to God.
b. Nor does this mean that we live in a constant state of self-deprecation because we are never good enough.
c. Remember, there is now no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)
d. But it does mean that without Christ’s continued mediation (I Timothy2:5) , we cannot be what God desires us to be.
e. In Hebrews 11:6, the scriptures say that without faith it is impossible to please God. We cannot expect to perform righteous deeds for our God without ultimately looking to Him to provide what we need to do them.
f. In Hebrews 4:16 we see that we can boldly approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace for a time of need. Again, the scriptures assume that we will need God’s grace to enable us to succeed.
g. John 15 Jesus Himself tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches and without Him, we can do nothing.
h. In Philippians 2:11-12 we see that we must work out our own salvation – this is true. But with fear and trembling because God provides to us the desire or will to obey Him and even the power or ability to obey Him.
i. And in this passage we see a church fresh off a victory, but knowing that they are not equipped to press on and continue to preach the Word of God boldly. They know that they can’t do the miracles. They know that they can’t stop the Sanhedrin. In short, they are helpless.
j. As are we all. We are all helpless to do as God asks of us, unless He grants what He commands.
2.) [Slide 18] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must reject the teaching that God is not in control but we are.
a. There is a teaching being pushed in many churches that attempts to redefine God’s Sovereignty. One noteworthy and popular pastor who claims to be an apostle named Bill Johnson of the Bethel church in Redding California has said, “God is in charge but He is not in control. He has left us in control.” There are so many Red flags to Bill Johnson and his church and the Bethel movement in general called the New Apostolic Reformation… I don’t have time to get into them this morning. And I fear that even people who might disagree with the NAR movement might be inclined to agree with his statement here. So let me address his statement only, leaving aside his other doctrinal issues. I see three primary errors in his short statement here.
b. The first error is that he says God is in charge but. You see already there is a problem by simply including an antithetical conjunction. If God is truly in charge, then there is no but. I’ve heard some say that Kings are sovereigns over their own nations – but that doesn’t mean they can stop people from doing what they want to do. In other words, kings can punish others for violating their will, but they cannot stop them. This works fine when we speak of human sovereigns. But the example quickly disintegrates when we try to apply it to the God of the Universe.
i. The first problem is that God is all powerful, all knowing, and all good. To suggest that God is in charge but… immediately calls into question whether or not God is all three of these.
ii. The second problem is when we start to define what exactly God is in charge of. You see, the psalms that are quoted in this prayer, make it abundantly clear, that God is in charge of all His creation. Which includes among other things… the will of man. We know that because only 3 verses later at the close of the psalm, God is said to frustrate the plans of the wicked. Meaning, he overrides their will. He removes from them what they want. Therefore, if God is in charge of all of His creation… to say God is in charge but… is already erroneous.
c. The second error is the assertion that God is not in control. First, let me just say. What a horrifying thought. God is not in control? Do you REALLY want to believe this? Before we even get to the scriptures that absolutely obliterate this… do we really want to believe that God is not in control?
i. The scriptures say that His will cannot be thwarted (Is 14:27; 46:9-10; Job 42:2).
ii. The scriptures prove over and over that God is able to change the wills of men to accomplish His purpose.
1. What about with Balaam? (Numbers 22-24) Was God not in control of what Balaam said?
2. Paul’s will was to go to Damascus to persecute believers, was God not able to change his will? (Acts 9:1-18)
3. What about when God is specifically said to harden Pharoah’s heart in the Old Testament? (Exodus 9:12; God hardens Pharaoh’s heart a total of 4 times. 5 more times it is in passive voice so at best we are unsure or it is the divine passive. Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart only twice. The third and the 5th time.)
4. Proverbs 21:1 says that the Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, He turns it wherever He wills.
5. Proverbs 16:9 says that men make plans but God directs their steps.
6. If God has changed men’s will to do as He pleased in the past, it does not prove that God always overrides men’s will in every case, but it does prove that He can change men’s will at His discretion.
7. Meaning that God is in control, but does not need to always exercise overriding control. But this is far from saying that God is NOT in control.
iii. To say that God is not in control is the most absurd and most horrifying heresy that has ever entered the mind of men. And it came first through the scaley lips of the serpent. He declared to Eve that God was ultimately not in control. She was able to reach out and get what He kept from her. Some say – SEE! Eve had freedom to choose. I agree completely. But have you ever asked yourself… if God is all knowing and all powerful and all good… why was the serpent there in the first place?
iv. You see my friends. If God is not in control… then we are doomed. How can he guarantee that we can be saved from sin? How can he guarantee that he will be with us to the end of the age. If God is not in control – All His promises are worthless.
d. The third error is the expression that God has left us in control. Meaning, I think, the church. Again, what a terrible thought. Do you see the state of the church today? The visible church is fractured. Many denominations are so far from the gospel that they are actually a different religion. And because the visible church is fractured the invisible church is dispersed. How can we possibly be in control?
i. Is this what the church in Acts did?
ii. If this were true, they would not have prayed for God to pay attention to the threats of the Sanhedrin and ask for boldness. Instead, they would have declared the Sanhedrin destroyed and to seek God for the Spirit’s filling of power.
1. Indeed, that is much of Bill Johnson’s ministry at Bethel and with the NAR… it is to blend New Age and mysticism together to evoke some sort of power from God.
2. It is paganism, where God is merely a means to get power.
iii. My friends, if we were truly in control the world would be far worse than it is. Indeed, it would be over and billions would be dead. We do not have the patience, the mercy, the kindness, the grace, or the compassion to be in control. God has not ceded that to us. He is still seated on the throne. And He will not step down. Not even when we reign with Him will He step down.
3.) [Slide 19] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must prayerfully depend on God’s protection, provision, and empowering.
a. On the one hand, they had every reason to feel confident. Peter and John had stood toe to toe with the Sanhedrin and walked away unscathed.
b. But on the other hand, they had issued some fairly clear threats to punish any who would preach or teach in the name of Jesus.
c. Knowing that God is in complete control and can do as He wishes. Knowing that He can do anything He desires and no one can tell Him no. They asked for protection, provision, and His power.
d. Are we better equipped than they are?
e. Do we need God’s protection, provision, and power any less than they do?
f. I would say we would be wise to follow our spiritual ancestors’ example.
g. We would be wise to cry out to the Lord in dependence to do as He has commanded us.
h. To assume that we can in our own strength, to assume we can protect ourselves by the power of our arms, to assume that we do not need His supernatural power to be and do what He has commanded – is the pinnacle of pride and the opposite of true faith.
i. The just live by faith my friends (Habakkuk 2:4)
j. If we are to be just, we must seek the Lord and trust Him to be just.
k. Are we crying out to the Lord in dependence on a daily basis? Do we seek Him earnestly to supply to us what we need to obey Him?
l. We must! If we do not, at worst we will succeed and think it was by our own strength. And at best we will fail.
4.) [Slide 20] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must resist our natural response of fight or flight.
a. I am no fan of modern psychology.
b. Especially when it attempts to solve man’s problems as if God or the spiritual nature of man did not exist.
c. But psychology has revealed that within most creatures, humans included, we have a predicable response when we face danger. Many call this the fight or flight response.
d. In a sense, we see the early church grapple with these two responses.
e. Although the church could not obey the unlawful command of the Sanhedrin, for they must obey God rather than man – they could have pendulum swung too far and attempted to join with the Zealots to overthrow the Sanhedrin and even Rome itself.
f. Indeed, by AD 66, the Zealots had succeeded in pushing out the Romans from Jerusalem, only to have Titus, the Emperor’s son, lay siege to Jerusalem and destroy the temple in AD 70.
g. What is interesting is that Christians, for the most part, had evacuated Jerusalem by that time. They had not participated in the Zealot’s uprising.
h. The church resisted the urge to fight. They certainly obeyed the Lord. But not with an uprising.
i. And here they ask the Lord to consider the threats of the Sanhedrin.
j. But on the opposite end they knew they must continue to obey the Lord’s commands. They could not hide, nor could they run from their responsibilities. They had to continue to preach the Word in spite of the threats against them. And so, since they could not fight or fly… they sought boldness.
k. We too must resist the urge to fight or flee. Instead, we must seek the Lord to make us courageous for Him.
5.) [Slide 21] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God is in complete control of whatever befalls us and will enable us to do what He has commanded us.
a. The theological core of the church’s response is the dependance on the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God.
b. That God is not only the final authority, but ultimately exercises complete control over His entire creation.
c. This is the basis of their prayer. This is the foundation of their comfort. To know that whatever befalls them, it is not some cosmic accident, nor are God’s hands tied because He can’t tread on men’s wills.
d. Instead, they bank on the fact that God can and does whatever He wills.
e. They trust that doctrinal point so much – that they seek God to change their feelings from fear to hope. To keep making it impossible to dismiss their message. And to protect them from the atrocities they have been promised.
f. All their hope is in whatever He desires to be done. They have given it all to Him.
g. Those who oppose the absolute Sovereignty of God have often criticized the command to pray if God is indeed sovereign. They say why would God command us to pray if He has already planned out what will be.
h. There are two amazing answers to that question.
i. First, in this text, the church went directly to God in prayer confessing that He was Sovereign over all. And that His will will be done. They did not see God’s absolute control as a hindrance to pouring out their heart’s desires to God. Instead, it was the theological catalyst for their prayers.
j. Which brings me to my next answer to the question. If God is not Sovereign and in control of all things. It makes even less sense to pray… Since He is ultimately not truly able to answer our prayers anyway.
k. That is why in practice, every believer when they pray, regardless of what they say they believe, pray as if they believed God was truly in control of all things.
l. [Slide 22 (end)] As J.I. Packer once said, “All Christians believe in divine sovereignty. On our feet we may have arguments about it, but on our knees, we are all agreed.”
m. Praise the Lord that He is in complete control. For we would be doomed if it were not so.