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03 Acts 05 17-42 DID NOT CEASE TEACHING AND PREACHING JESUS 01 Acts 05 17 Praying for people’s eyes to be opened
📖 Acts 05:17-42
01 – 20Apr2023 – *Praying for people’s eyes to be opened* - _Acts 05:17-42_ - DID NOT CEASE TEACHING AND PREACHING JESUS - Bible reading: _Acts 04:23-29_
“Lord Jesus, enable us to have Your perspective on the persecution that is increasing worldwide against Your church. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
We have completed the study of _Acts 05:12-16_ which we had titled, MIRACELS, SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HIS CHURCH. This study was of 10 lessons. We now begin the study of _Acts 05:17-42_, which we will title, DID NOT CEASE TEACHING AND PREACHING JESUS.
_Act 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,_
The church was in flow with miracles, signs and wonders taking place. Multitudes of people were being added to His church. As all of this was taking place, the leaders were now very angry. The growth of the church was totally disturbing for the Jewish hierarchy.
This is what is taking place, worldwide, today. This matter of opposition to the things of God is not a New Testament phenomenon but has been in vogue from the time of the fall of man. Opposition to the growth of His church is the work of the devil and he instigates people to act violently against His church.
This was the response of the early church to the violent action of the leaders against them. _Acts 4:23-29 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (24) So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, (25) *who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'WHY DID THE NATIONS RAGE, AND THE PEOPLE PLOT VAIN THINGS? (26) THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' (27) "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (28) to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. (29) Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word*,_
The disciples saw that all that was happening against them, was a continuation of the activity of the people of the world against God and His people, since ancient times. They were not surprised or agitated by the violence against them. They did not pray to God, seeking protection, but they prayed desiring boldness, to speak God’s word, in the context of the violent action against His church by the authorities.
This is the learning for us, as His church, as we experience violent persecution against us.
_Psalms 2:1-5 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, (3) “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." (4) He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. (5) Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:_
The Psalmist gives us perspective on the violence of the nations against His church. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh because He holds all things by His word. *_II Peter 3:5-7 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, (6) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. (7) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men._*
We, as His church, must see the violence against us, from God’s perspective and reach out to our tormentors in love, to rescue them from the wrath of God. They have chosen not to reckon with God and with the adversity that awaits them.
What was it caused the leaders of the world to take such a violent stand against the Lord and against His church? Deep inside it was envy that made them act the way they did.
_John 11:47-53 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. (48) *If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation*." (49) And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, (50) nor do you consider that *it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish*." (51) Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year *he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (52) and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad*. (53) Then, from that day on, *they plotted to put Him to death*._
As His church, we must know what is in the heart of man that causes the world to be so violent against His church. They are envious of His church for several reasons. ```Let us, therefore, not be angry or afraid of them but reach out to them with love and with boldness.```