Acts 5:17-20, 2 Corinthians 2:15,16 – Talks about us being the aroma of life. To
those who believe – the sweet smell of life – to unbelievers – the smell of death.
GETTING STARTED:
● The church is growing and gaining standing in the community and it is
filling the religious leaders with a jealous rage. They want to shut it down
and stop the Good News. But they find themselves fighting against God.
● I want to point out 3 overcoming attitudes that are revealed in this passage – 2 through the apostles and 1 through Gamaliel – the leading Jewish scholar of that time. Paul was his star pupil. That’s another story.
WE MUST OBEY GOD. Look at Acts 5:21-32.
● The disciples follow the instructions of the angel who opened the gates of
the jail. So would you. They obediently and passionately preach Jesus.
● The disciples did not live out their faith in secrecy – they were out in the
open – standing up for the Lord. Teaching the people about Jesus.
● When confronted for their behavior they testify for Jesus. Look at 29-32.
YOU CANNOT STOP THE MOVE OF GOD. Acts 5:33-39
● Gamaliel makes this observation – human led movements burn out and go
away. You don’t have to stop them – they just end on their own.
● He also points out – IF it is from God – you cannot stop it – you might even
find yourself fighting against God.
● Interestingly – He was right and yet he was wrong about the disciples. He
thought they would go away on their own – but they were not on their own –
they were filled with the Spirit of the Living God. So are you. What God is
doing in your life cannot be stopped by this world.
REJOICE WHEN LIFE CONFRONTS YOUR WITNESS. Acts 5:40-42
● The religious leaders don’t kill the disciples – they beat them and order
them to stop preaching the Good News.
● The apostles rejoice – genuinely rejoice – that they are counted worthy to
suffer for the name of Jesus. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER
OF REJOICING FOR YOUR LIFE. It leads to overcoming.
● No surprise here: They continue to teach and preach Jesus. CONTINUE
ON IN YOUR FAITH TODAY – IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.