We're going to begin by singing to God's praise in Psalm 33. It's not from verse 18,
as marked on the bulletin sheets, from verse 15. And we'll sing from verse 15
down to the end of the psalm. Page 246 of the psalm books, Psalm 33 at verse 15.
He forms their hearts alike and all their doings he observes.
Great host saves not a king much strength, no mighty man preserves.
Then from verse 19 there, from death to free their soul and dearth,
life unto them to yield. Our soul doth wait upon the Lord. He is our help and shield.
We'll sing from verse 15 down to the end of the psalm and the tune is Irish.
He forms their hearts alike and all their doings he observes.
Great host save not a king, but strength no mighty man preserves.
And hordes for preservation is a deceitful thing.
And by the greatness of his strength can no deliverance bring.
Behold on those that do him fear, the Lord doth set his eye.
Heave those who on his mercy do, with confidence rely.
From death to free their soul and dearth, life unto them to yield.
Our soul doth wait upon the Lord. He is our help and shield.
His heart is a god's sin.
If there is a burden being soMan çaigneur near me.
As we do hope in thee.
Let's join our hearts together in prayer.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we come before you this night
thankful for every opportunity we have to call upon your name,
to praise your name and to give thanks to you
as our Lord and as our God.
And to come even as the psalmist from the psalm we've sung,
waiting upon you.
As he said, our soul doth wait upon the Lord.
He is our help and shield.
Help us to come with these words in mind,
recognizing who you are,
that you are indeed our help and our shield,
the one who preserves us, the one who keeps us.
For the psalm warns us too
that there is no preservation in a horse, as it is put.
For there the psalmist is thinking of putting their trust in the armies
and the strength of armies,
that they might find protection in that way.
But ultimately, they knew and we know
that our only protection, our only salvation,
is through the Lord as our God.
And so we pray, Lord, this evening that as we come,
we will come acknowledging you as that Lord,
the Lord of our lives,
the Lord of our hearts,
the Lord of all that we seek to do.
For apart from you, Lord, we can do nothing.
And so help us to come
and worship you in that way,
to put our trust in you,
that our hearts may be joyful,
that we might know your mercy upon us
as we put our hope in you.
And Lord, we pray for your word to be blessed to us,
that all that we hear would speak to us
of the wonder of your salvation
and your love and your grace towards us,
of the challenge to obedience to you,
and that your spirit would work in all our hearts
to build us up in our faith,
to help us to trust you more,
even to come and know you for the first time,
to know that joy of salvation,
to know what it is to have our hearts opened
and to receive you in that way,
to understand you,
to understand your word,
to understand your grace and your love,
to understand all that it means for our lives just now
and all that it means for eternity
that's before us all as well.
So help us, Lord,
that your spirit would be with us
to prompt us in that way,
to know you and to understand you as you are.
And we thank you, Lord,
that your word is powerful to that end,
that your word is the word of truth
and the word of life,
the word that sets us free.
And we pray, Lord,
that as your word is proclaimed here
and around us in so many different places
in our communities,
in our island,
our nation and the world,
in the many different languages
it's proclaimed in.
We thank you, Lord,
that it goes out with your power
and your spirit
and that that is a word
that is able to convince people
of who you are,
to convict in their hearts
and to convert them to you.
And so we pray, Lord,
for your spirit to move around us
and among us
and bring life to those who are dead,
bring life to those who are lost in this world,
not realizing the eternity before them.
But, Lord,
we pray for your salvation,
your saving power,
the light of your salvation,
to go out
and bring that light of hope.
And so we pray, Lord,
that today and each day
that you allow your word
to be among us, Lord,
for we do not know
the number of our days,
we do not know
when the Lord will return.
But we pray that until he does,
your voice will be heard
and that you will save many people.
And we know, Lord,
that we live in a world
that is full of so many challenges,
so many difficulties,
so many trials.
We know around us, Lord,
so many who are going through them
in different ways.
Even ourselves, Lord,
although on the outside
things may seem calm and right,
we know that within, Lord,
and even in our own hearts
there can be troubles
that are maybe only known unto you.
And we thank you that that is so,
that you are the one
who is able to calm our souls
and to calm our hearts.
You are the one who is able to,
as we heard this morning,
to call us to come
and put our trust in you,
that you are the one
who reaches down your hand to us
when we feel that we are
sinking under the waves
and that you are able
to lift us up
and to give us that security
to take us into
that secure place with you.
And so, Lord,
we pray that you will help
each of us
to know that security
and to know that hope
and that that hope
would be known
among many around us.
We pray for those
in particular needs
just now, Lord,
thankful for the power
of prayer,
thankful for the way
that you hear our prayers
and that you are able
to answer
and so often in ways
that go beyond
our understanding
and beyond
what we ask
or imagine,
as Paul says
in Ephesians.
We thank you
that you help us
to marvel at the way
that you remind us
of the power
that you have,
that you remind us,
Lord,
that you are able
to do abundantly
more than we ask
or imagine.
And so,
we thank you,
Lord,
for prayers heard
and answered
and we pray,
Lord,
that whatever your answer
is,
whatever your will
is for us,
that we will always
be content with that
and that that would
be our prayer.
And so,
hear our prayers,
Lord,
for those around us,
for those who are
unwell at this time,
for those who are
mourning at this time,
for those who
go through so many
different challenges,
Lord,
we pray for you
to surround them,
to uphold them,
to strengthen them.
Remember those who
struggle with addictions
at this time as well,
Lord,
we know so much
of our community
is bound up
in that way,
so much of it
is perhaps hidden
from us at times
and yet it's around us
in so many different ways.
And we pray,
Lord,
that in the silence
and the hiddenness
of it,
that in your knowledge
Lord,
that you will
draw near to
all who need you
in these ways
and help them,
Lord,
give them hope,
give them security,
give them the knowledge
of your grace
and your love,
give them to know,
Lord,
of the joy
that is found in you
and not in anything else
that this world offers.
And so we pray,
Lord,
for your help
to break these bonds.
We pray for your church,
we thank you
for a week
of General Assembly
in Edinburgh
for our denomination
and we pray
that your blessing
will follow it
upon all that was done
and upon all that
goes on going forward
from here as well,
that your hand
will be upon us
for good,
to lead us,
to guide us,
to help us
in all our different needs,
that ministries
will go on,
Lord,
throughout our nation
and throughout the world,
that there will be
a sense of your blessing
and your building
your church
in these days.
And we thank you,
Lord,
that there are
so many encouragements
from different places
around the world
as well as our own nation.
We are reminded
that you are the one
who builds this church
and that there is nothing
that will overwhelm it
or overcome it.
And we pray,
Lord,
for a day of your power,
a day of your salvation
in our midst.
We pray too,
Lord,
for our communities
at this time,
Lord,
we think of
the needs that we have,
Lord,
we think of
our homes
and our families
and our ignorance
of you
in so many ways.
Lord,
even as your people,
even as your church,
we can be blind
to what you call us to,
what you call us to be,
what you ask of us,
Lord,
and all of these things
we can go on
in our own wisdom.
But help us,
Lord,
to look not to
our own wisdom
but to yours.
To recognize,
Lord,
that as a people
that we are here
but for a time.
And we pray,
Lord,
that to have that spirit
of Esther
when we hear these words
for such a time as this.
And we pray,
Lord,
that you would remind us
that that is our providence
just now.
For such a time as this,
Lord,
you have placed us here.
You have given us opportunities.
You have given us moments.
You have given us
so many different blessings
and kindnesses.
And help us,
Lord,
not to take them for granted
but to use every good
and perfect gift
that you have given to us.
Whether they be
as a collective people
or individually,
help us,
Lord,
not to bury our talents
but to use them wisely
and to use them richly
for your glory.
That your blessing
may be upon us.
That we might know
your favour upon us
as a people.
So, Lord,
hear our prayers,
we ask,
and remember us
in all of these things
and help us
even this evening
as we prepare ourselves
and look ahead
to the week before us
and especially
to a communion weekend
to seek your blessing upon us,
to seek your good
in our midst,
to seek encouragement,
Lord,
to seek
that our hearts
will be built up
and strengthened
in our faith
for those
who have professed Christ
that they will know
once more
that overwhelming power
of what Jesus
has done for us.
That we will not
grow weary of it,
that we will not
lose our sense
of awe
and amazement
and wonder
of the one
who gave us life
for us,
that we might know
life through him.
Lord,
for some we might cry,
restore to us
salvation's joy.
And we pray,
Lord,
for others to come,
to come and put
their trust in you,
to come and know you
in that way,
to come and know,
Lord,
your saving power
and to know the blessing
that there is
in obedience
to your command.
And so we ask,
oh Lord,
that you will go before us,
that you will bless us
by your word
and by your spirit
in all that we do
and all that we see.
As we come,
we come confessing
our sins before you,
knowing,
Lord,
that you alone
are able to forgive,
but you,
Lord,
are able to do
so much
that we
so often forget,
that you have
paid the ultimate price,
that our sins
are forgiven
through the blood
of Jesus
who gave his life
for us.
So hear our prayers,
Lord,
and continue with us
as we ask it all
in his precious name
and for his glory.
Amen.
Let's praise God again
by singing
in Psalm 25,
the first version
of the Psalm
in page 231,
the Scottish Psalter version.
Psalm 25,
we'll sing from verse 1
to verse 6
in Tunes Surich.
To thee I lift my soul,
O Lord,
I trust in thee.
My God,
let me not be ashamed,
nor foes triumph
over me.
We'll sing from verse 1
to verse 6
to God's praise.
to thee I lift my soul,
O Lord,
I trust in thee.
My God,
let me not be ashamed,
nor foes triumph
for me.
Let none that wait
on thee
be put to shame
at all,
but those that without
cause transgress,
let shame upon them fall.
Show me thy ways,
O Lord,
thy paths,
O teach thy me,
and do thy lead me
in thy truth,
therein my teacher be.
For thou art God
that does,
to me salvation send,
and lie upon thee
all the day,
expecting to attend.
thy death,
thy mercy,
Lord,
I pray thee to remember,
and loving kindnesses
for thee have been
all for forever.
God.
Amen.
We're going to read together
God's word
in the book of Acts,
in Acts chapter 5.
We're going to take up
our reading at verse 12.
Acts chapter 5,
reading from verse 12,
and we read down
to verse 32.
Now many signs
and wonders
were regularly done
among the people
by the hands
of the apostles,
and they were all together
in Solomon's portico.
None of the rest
dared join them,
but the people
held them in high esteem.
And more than ever,
believers were added
to the Lord,
multitudes of both men
and women,
so that they even
carried out their sick
into the streets
and laid them
on cots and mats.
And as Peter came by,
at least his shadow
might fall on some of them.
The people also gathered
from the towns
round Jerusalem,
bringing the sick
and those afflicted
with unclean spirits,
and they were all healed.
But the high priest
rose up,
and all who were with him,
that is,
the party of the Sadducees,
and filled with jealousy,
they arrested the apostles
and put them
in the public prison.
But during the night,
an angel of the Lord
opened the prison
and doors
and brought them out
and said,
Go and stand
in the temple
and speak to the people
all the words
of this life.
And when they heard this,
they entered the temple
at daybreak
and began to teach.
Now when the high priest
came and those
who were with them,
they called together
the council
and all the senate
of Israel
and sent to the prison
to have them brought.
But when the officers
came,
they did not find them
in the prison,
so they returned
and reported.
We found the prison
securely locked
and the guards
standing at the doors,
but when we opened them,
we found no one inside.
Now when the captain
of the temple
and the chief priests
heard these words,
they were greatly
perplexed about them,
wondering what this
would come to.
And someone came
and told them,
Look, the men
whom you put in prison
are standing in the temple
and teaching the people.
And then the captain
with the officers
went and brought them,
but not by force,
for they were afraid
of being stoned
by the people.
And when they had brought them,
they set them
before the council.
The high priest
questioned them,
saying,
We strictly charged you
not to teach
in this name,
yet here you have
filled Jerusalem
with your teaching
and you intend
to bring this man's
blood upon us.
But Peter and the apostles
answered,
We must obey God
rather than men.
The God of our fathers
raised Jesus,
whom you killed
by hanging him
on a tree.
God exalted him
at his right hand
as leader and saviour
to give repentance
to Israel
and forgiveness
of sins.
And we are witnesses
to these things.
And so is the Holy Spirit
whom God has given
to those
who obey him.
And so on.
And may God bless
that reading
from his word.
Before we turn back
to look at this passage,
we'll sing from
Psalm 48a
in the Sing Psalms version.
Psalm 48a
on page 63
of the psalm books.
We'll sing from
verse 4 down to
verse 11.
When kings joined
forces to attack
as one,
they marched ahead.
They saw her
and they were amazed.
They all in terror
fled.
Like women giving birth
in pain,
they trembled in dismay.
You wrecked them
like a merchant fleet
by tempest
blown away.
As we have heard,
so we have seen.
God's city
will endure.
The Lord Almighty
evermore
his city
keeps secure.
We'll sing from
verse 4 down
to verse 11.
And the tune is
Paisley.
When kings joined
forces to attack,
as long they marched
ahead.
They saw her and they were amazed.
They all in terror
fled.
Like women giving birth
in pain,
they trembled in dismay.
You wrecked them
like a merchant fleet
by tempest
blown away.
As we have fled,
so have we seen.
God's city
will endure.
The Lord Almighty
evermore
has set
deep
keeps
secure.
we
contemplate
your steadfast
love
within
your
hearts,
O God.
For
like
your name
your grace
extends
through
all
the
air
abroad.
Lord.
All that
you do
is righteous,
Lord,
Mount Zion's
joyous
great.
And
Judah's
towns
rejoice
as they
your
judgments
celebrate.
we can
turn back
to our
reading in
the book
of Acts
chapter 5.
We're looking
at this section
that we read.
We'll just
read again
at verse
29.
But Peter
and the
apostles
answered,
we must
obey
God
rather than
men.
The God
of our
fathers
raised
Jesus,
whom you
killed
by hanging
him on
a tree.
God
exalted
him at
his right
hand
as leader
and saviour
to give
repentance
to Israel
and forgiveness
of sins.
And we are
witnesses to
these things.
And so is
the Holy
Spirit whom
God has
given to
those who
obey
him.
We must
obey
God
rather
than
men.
When you
think back
in your
life,
what's
your
earliest
memory?
What's
the first
thing that
you can
remember as
you think
back?
I'm sure
the more
you think
about it,
the more
different
things might
come back
to you.
And sometimes
it's hard
to distinguish
just what
was the
earliest
memory,
because there
would be a
number of
different
memories that
kind of
merge
together.
But how
many of
these memories
involve
people,
and especially
how many
of these
involve
people
telling you
what you
should or
what you
shouldn't
do.
It might
be the
memories of
your parents,
it might
be the
memories of
a school
teacher,
it might
be the
memories of
a minister
or a
Sunday
school
teacher,
but the
message
that they've
been giving
you is to
do something
or not
to do
something.
And very
often it's
in light of
you having
done
the opposite
of what
was being
asked of
you.
And these
memories
stand out
because very
often they
instill in
you maybe
a sense
of fear.
There can
be a sense
of fear
that you've
let somebody
down or
that you've
done
something
wrong.
And letting
someone down
is often
something that
just stays
with us.
But when we
think about
God and
what he
wants of
us,
you think
of maybe a
minister or
a sermon
you've
heard and
it's stuck
with you
for a
reason.
Because the
minister was
saying something
that just
really resonated
with you.
And it's
still maybe
lingering there
in your
mind just
now.
It still
comes back
to you
often and
you're
thinking what
that minister
said, what
that message
was saying,
what the
Lord was
saying was
powerful.
And God
speaks to
us in
different ways
like that,
in ways that
can often
remain with
us all
our days.
A word
from the
Lord that
sticks with
us.
And it's a
word from
the Lord
that so
often is
calling us
to obedience
to him,
to listen
to him.
When we
think of
parents or
teachers or
Sunday school
teachers, they
wanted what
was best for
us.
They wanted
us to be
obedient to
what they were
saying because
they knew it
was for our
good.
And God
ultimately is
the one who
knows what
is best for
us.
And that's
why his
word calls
us to
obedience.
And as you
look through
the book of
Acts, you
find it's
full of so
many ups and
downs, the
acts of the
apostles, the
things that
they were doing
as the Lord
had gone to
be with the
Father, and
as the church
was in its
infancy, as
its church
was just
small in
number as
you see at
the beginning
of Acts, and
then expanding
and growing as
it went out
from Jerusalem
and to all
the ends of
the earth.
You see the
amazing ways
that the
Lord was
working, and
all the time
God calling
his people
and a
people to
obedience.
And what
you find as
you go through
the book of
Acts is that
obedience to
God, yes,
it can lead
you to a
place of
quiet and
calm and
joy, but
there's also
so many
times when
obedience to
God takes
you into a
place that's
uncomfortable, a
place that you
maybe didn't
expect to find
yourself, but a
place where the
Lord reminds you
that he wants
what is good
for you.
We don't
always understand
maybe parents
who are telling
us what they
know is good
for us.
We don't
understand or
see it at the
time, and it's
only when we
look back.
Well, in the
same way, we
think of what
God says to
us.
We don't
understand at
times, we
don't see it
for ourselves
until ultimately
we look back
or see God
does know
best.
And so he
is calling
us to
obedience,
because obedience
is the way
to God's
peace.
And that's
what we see
with Peter and
the apostles as
they answered
there in
verse 29.
in all the
troubles and
trials of
prison and
persecution that
they were facing
up to here,
what was their
response?
We must obey
God rather
than men.
Those who
are telling
them to be
quiet, not
to proclaim
the Lord
Jesus, not
to show him
publicly, they
must obey
God rather
than men.
So obedience
as you go
through the
book of Acts,
is challenged.
And it's
challenged in
two different
ways.
It's challenged
in are we
being obedient
to God
ourselves?
And it's
also challenged
when you see
the persecution
that arises.
Will you go
on in
obedience even
when the way
is difficult?
John Calvin
once said,
we must
realize that
God is
longing to
shower blessings
on his
church.
but he
still allows
it to be
harassed by
the ungodly.
So we must
be ready
to battle.
Do you
feel harassed
today?
Remember,
that's how
Jesus often
saw the
people around
them.
In the
Gospel of
Matthew, he
speaks of the
crowds that he
saw around
them as
harassed and
helpless, like
sheep without
a shepherd.
are you
feeling
harassed
today?
Are you
feeling that
your obedience
is being
pulled one
minute towards
God but
then tasted
in a way
you think,
well, I
can't go on
like that,
and then
you're being
pulled in a
different
direction.
And especially
as we think
of this week
ahead of us
and as we
approach another
time of
communion in
our midst,
it's often a
time when that
harassed feeling
can fall upon
us.
We haven't
been obedient
as we should
have been.
We haven't
done as we
should have
done, and we
can feel harassed,
we can feel
in the midst
of a battle,
but we are
coming to
remember the
Lord's death.
We are
coming to
remember, as
we read here
in the book
of Acts,
the one who
the God of
our fathers
raised Jesus
whom you
killed by
hanging on a
tree.
God
exalted
him at
his right
hand as
leader and
saviour to
give repentance
to Israel
and forgiveness
of sins.
So as we
feel harassed
and helpless,
we have a
place to
look, and
one to
look to,
our leader
and our
saviour,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
In his
obedience,
in going
to the
cross,
we see the
ultimate
obedience,
and we
ask ourselves,
are we
obedient to
him?
Are we
being obedient
even in the
midst of all
that harassment
that comes
our way?
Obedience that
will ultimately
lead to peace
with him.
And so we
want to just
think about this
obedience as we
see it before us
this evening in
this section.
And the first
thing we're going
to think of is
there is blessing
that follows
obedience.
It's maybe a
phrase you've
heard,
blessing follows
obedience.
But what is
blessing?
The blessing
that follows
obedience isn't
always everything
going swimmingly
and everything
going straight
forward,
but it's a
blessing and the
comfort and the
assurance that
you're right
with God,
that you are
doing as
Peter says
here,
we must obey
God rather
than men.
Whatever the
consequences are,
we must obey
God rather
than men.
And when we
look at this
section, we
didn't read at
the beginning
of chapter 5,
but what we're
reading of is
in light of
what comes at
the beginning
of chapter 5,
which is
Ananias and
Sapphira and
their disobedience
to God.
And if you read
through it when
you go home,
you'll see that
for yourselves,
but Ananias and
Sapphira,
they were
disobedient to
God.
They kept
back for
themselves,
it says in
verse 2,
some of the
proceeds and
brought only
part of it and
laid it at the
apostles' feet.
They had sold
a piece of
land and what
they were going
to give to
the Lord's
cause, they
held back for
themselves.
And look at
what happens as
you read through
it, both of
them died
almost instantly.
within moments
of having been
called out,
they both died
instantly, the
two of them,
this husband and
wife, and they
were buried that
day.
They were
disobedient to
God.
And you say
to yourself,
how harsh is
that?
But it stood
as a warning,
it stood as a
warning then and
stands as a
warning to us
that ultimately
disobedience to
God, the
consequences are
serious and the
consequences are
deadly.
An eternal
death is the
ultimate consequence
of disobedience
to God.
So it's in light
of that
disobedience that
we're reading on
when they're
calling them to
obedience to
God rather than
men.
But what kind of
outcome would you
have expected
after this has
happened to
Ananias and
Sapphira?
Do people just
turn away?
Do you think
what kind of
cruel God is
this or would
allow this to
happen to them?
What kind of
God are we
coming to if
the slightest
mistake is going
to strike us
down in this
way?
Is that the
kind of God
that they're
coming to?
Did it make
them re-evaluate
how they would
go about
preaching the
word of God?
What they might
say?
Do they start
thinking,
well this is
too cruel a
God to
follow and
how are
going to
people come
and follow
and we'll
have to
change this.
We'll have
to maybe
just mark
this incident
out,
leave it
out.
And yet here
we are reading
of it today
as well.
It's there
to stand
as a warning
to us.
We don't
change the
message of
the gospel.
We don't
change anything
that it
says to
make it
more appealing
by dropping
some bits
out as
many are
tempted to
do this
day.
We are to
preach the
whole counsel
of God
as it
says.
And we
find even
in the midst
of this
challenge
that the
wonder of
it all was
that they
continued to
come and
to hear the
message and
see the
wonders and
signs that
were being
done.
the awesome
power of
God was
there in
their midst
and they
didn't turn
away from
it in
fear but
instead they
feared the
Lord.
In
verse 13
it says
none of
the rest
dared join
them and
it seems
like there
was this
fear over
the people.
What will
God do
with me?
They feared
to join
them and
yet in
verse 14
more than
ever
believers
were added
to the
Lord.
So there
was a
fear of
joining
yet there
was a
realization
that where
else can
we go?
Disobedience
to God
has serious
consequences
therefore we
must come
to him.
And so
we too
are not to
be afraid
or ashamed
of the
gospel.
we are
not to
be afraid
of what
it says.
Don't be
afraid of
the fact
that the
Bible talks
about hell
and sin
and the
consequences
that lie
behind all
of these
things because
you need
to see
that and
see the
balance that
there is of
grace and
salvation.
When
Peter says
we must
obey God
rather than
men it's in
light of the
God of our
fathers raised
Jesus whom
you killed
and God
has exalted
him as
leader and
savior to
give repentance
to Israel
and forgiveness
of sins.
So the
disobedience
of sin
there is a
way out of
it by
repentance
and to
forgiveness
of sins.
And it
is only
in obedience
that blessing
will come
in being
obedient to
him.
And we
live in a
world where
everyone is
so easily
offended.
It's
something we
hear so
often now.
That people
are afraid
what you
say in
case it
causes
offense.
And yet
before us
we have
something that
will cause
people to
be offended.
Maybe it
even causes
you to be
offended
tonight when
you hear
the word
of God.
When you
hear things
being said
like you
are a
sinner.
People are
offended by
that.
How can
you call
me a
sinner?
I'm a
good person.
But that's
what the
truth says.
That we
are sinners.
That we
fall short
of the
glory of
God.
And we
shouldn't
be ashamed.
We shouldn't
be afraid
of that.
Because if
we see
that in
light of
what the
gospel is
teaching as
a whole,
it brings
us to the
point where
the
offense that
we see
is against
God and
against
Christ.
The fact
that our
sins killed,
put to
death the
Lord Jesus,
it is what
brought him
to the
cross.
And we're
afraid sometimes
of the
truth.
But behind
what causes
offense is
the beauty
of the
gospel.
The blessing
of seeing
that in
obedience to
God,
though we
are sinners,
there is
hope of
the forgiveness
of sin.
Because it
is the truth
that sets
us free.
Blessing
follows
obedience.
As somebody
once said,
it's a
great deal
easier to
do that
which God
gives us
to do,
no matter
how hard
it is,
than to
face the
responsibilities
of not
doing it.
It's a
great deal
easier to
do that
which God
gives us
to do,
no matter
how hard
it is,
than to
face the
responsibilities
of not
doing it.
He is
calling us
to obedience.
There are
consequences
to not
doing that.
Obedience
will be
hard at
times,
as we'll
see in a
moment,
but ultimately
the blessings
will follow
obedience.
So,
secondly,
we see
obedience
leads to
trials.
God
blessing his
people is
not without
its own
consequences.
And as
you continue
to read
through these
verses,
and as you
see the
apostles
arrested and
put into
prison,
you see the
challenge that
comes to
their obedience.
They are
saying in
verse 29,
we must
obey God
rather than
men.
And where
has this
led them?
Well,
it's led
them to
this trial.
They were
arrested,
and they
were put
into public
prison in
verse 18.
So,
you get
thrown into
prison.
There's fear,
there's questions
being asked
there.
Why are we
here?
We're doing
as God
has commanded
us, and
yet here we
are in
prison.
And yet we
see that
although there
is blessing
following
obedience,
obedience can
lead us into
different trials
and different
places.
But in
that, God
has a
purpose as
well.
God is
strengthening
his apostles
and his
people through
this.
He's making
them realize
where their
devotion lies,
where their
devotion rests,
who it is
that they are
going to be
obedient to.
The easy
answer would
be to turn
away from
God, stop
preaching the
gospel, deny
the Lord.
Peter has
already done
this in his
own life, and
he's seen the
consequences of
it, the pain
and the anguish
that brings as
he denied his
Lord at the
time of his
crucifixion.
But here is
Peter restored
again, as we
read in
verse 29, but
Peter and
the apostles
answered, we
must obey
God rather
than men.
And he's
speaking through
experience.
He's denied
his Lord in
the past.
He's been
disobedient to
the Lord in
the past, but
he's learning,
and he's
learned now
obedience is
the answer.
Even when it
leads us to
prison and
to suffering and
to all of
these things,
we must obey
God rather
than men.
And what's
causing their
trials here?
Well, we see
it's the
jealousy of
those around
them.
The high
priest and
the Sadducees
filled with
jealousy, it
says in
verse 17.
This is the
attack that
came upon
them.
They were
standing up
for the Lord,
they were
seeing wondrous
things happen,
and they
were seeing
many being
added to
their number,
and now the
high priest and
the Sadducees,
they're jealous.
But how do
they respond?
In the midst
of their
trials, how
do they
respond?
Well, we go
back to
verse 12.
In the
middle of
verse 12,
it says,
they were
all together
in Solomon's
portico.
people.
And this
is the
way that
they went
on.
And this
is a word
that we
often find
throughout the
book of
Acts.
Together,
one accord.
It's a
Greek word
that's difficult
to translate,
and translators
have tried to
put it across
in different
ways.
But it's a
sense of
unity.
And it's a
sense of
unity no
matter what.
You see
it in
Acts 1,
verse 14.
There, that
very same
word is
used.
All these
were with
one accord.
Were devoting
themselves to
prayer.
One accord
is the word
that's used
there.
Together is
the word
used in
verse 12
here.
But behind
it is the
same thing.
They are
together in
unity for
the Lord
here.
And somebody
has described
it in
terms of
a musical
term.
It's like
everyone with
a different
note, but
together making
beautiful music,
making a
beautiful song.
It's like what
we heard in
the children's
address this
morning.
The party
rings.
They can
look different
in some
ways, but
yet they're
all the same
ingredients, and
they've all
got the same
thing behind
them.
And as
Christians,
we can
all look
different.
We can
all behave
differently.
We can
all have
different
things about
us, but
we're
together in
this sense
of united
and making
a beautiful
song for
the Lord.
In the
midst of
obedience, it
leads to
trials, but
we have this
wonderful
togetherness,
together for
the gospel.
people.
And this
is what
provokes the
Sadducees and
the high
priests.
This unity
provokes them
to jealousy
and to ask
what is going
on among
these people.
And it
causes a
provocation
against different
people in
different ways.
And it
makes us
ask what
kind of
reaction does
our life
provoke of
others around
us.
Do others
look on us
and see this
unity of
body, this
oneness in
Christ, this
wonder at
what we
have?
As people
looked on
here, we
see three
different reactions
that people
had.
The response
of some of
the onlookers
was wonder
and awe.
And they
came into
the fellowship.
They were
brought in
more than
ever.
Believers
were added
to the
Lord.
Multitudes
of both
men and
women, it
says in
verse 14.
They were
provoked to
obedience, to
love the
Lord.
But there
were others
who were
provoked to
jealousy, the
high priest
and the
Sadducees
among them.
And that
was what
our unity,
our love
for Christ
will do us
while it
will provoke
others to
jealousy, to
anger.
And we
shouldn't be
surprised at
when this
comes.
If you
are obedient
to God, it
will lead to
challenges from
even family and
friends around
you.
But you
always remember
what Peter
says, we
must obey
God rather
than men.
So there's
these responses.
It provokes
some to
come to the
Lord.
It provokes
others to be
jealous and
angry towards
those of
the Lord's,
but it
also provokes
a response
from God.
More than
ever, believers
were added
to the
Lord,
multitudes
of both
men and
women.
As they
were together,
as they were
obedient, the
Lord was
working in
their midst.
And so
that is how
we are to
go on
ourselves as
well.
To be
obedient to
God.
To obey
God rather
than men and
to know that
yes, it will
provoke.
It will
provoke jealousy
and anger,
but it will
also provoke
others to
questions,
ask, can I
have that
Lord?
Does he
love me?
And to move
others and to
provoke God
by seeing
that unity
that we
enjoy in
adding to
our number
those who
are being
saved.
And God
had a
purpose for
them here.
Where there
is unity,
trials come,
but blessings
follow as
well.
And God
is able to
give us
blessing upon
blessing.
There was a
wonderful story
told of a
man, a
Christian man,
and he
met with a
friend in
the morning
as he was
out for a
walk.
And a
friend asked
him, how
are you
today?
And he
said, I'm
burdened this
morning.
And the
man looked
so happy.
And his
friend was
thinking, I
wouldn't expect
you to look
so happy if
you're burdened.
And he
said, are you
really burdened?
You don't
look it.
And he
said, yes,
I'm
wonderfully
burdened.
And it's
an over
abundance of
blessing, he
said.
I can't
find time
or words
to express
it.
And his
friend was
just looking
confused.
He was
wondering, what
is this man
talking about?
Burdened and
yet full of
joy?
And he
said, I'm
referring to
Psalm 68
verse 19.
And that, he
says, describes
my condition
today.
Because in
that verse,
the Father
in heaven
reminds us,
he daily
loads us
with benefits.
That is a
burden that
he was
feeling.
That was
the blessing
that he
knew in
obedience to
God.
If we
have these
words in
the Psalter
version, he
daily with
his benefits
as plenteously
doth load.
He burdens
us with
blessings.
Obedience
leads to
trials, but
it never
leads to
the absence
of God
with us.
And the
last thing we
just want to
take from
this is that
trials, they
lead to
opportunities.
And when we
look at the
believers here
as they were
together in
this way, as
they had this
unity, as
they were
seeing God's
hand upon
them, even
in the midst
of challenges,
what did it
do for
them?
Well, it
gave them
great opportunities
to speak
among these
high
priests and
Sadducees and
all the
people around
them.
They were
called into
their midst.
Even though
they'd been
put into
prison, they
still had an
opportunity to
witness to
those around
them.
And today we
live in a
world that
more and
more we
need to
take these
opportunities to
witness to
those around
us, to
provoke them
to response.
Even if that
response is
anger initially,
we still need
to stand up
for the
Lord, to
show our
unity, to
show that
we enjoy the
blessing of
God no
matter what,
that he is
with us.
They had
been thrown
into prison
and then
remarkably this
angel came to
them and they
were released
from prison in
an amazing
way.
But what did
they do when
they were
released?
It says in
verse 21,
they entered
the temple at
daybreak and
began to
teach.
They were
not ashamed
of the
gospel.
They were
not ashamed
of what it
stood for.
They were
not afraid of
the consequences
that might
come their
way.
We must
obey God
rather than
men.
The opportunity
was there for
them to
proclaim the
gospel of
Jesus, the
forgiveness of
sin that
comes through
him.
You might
expect after
being released
from prison,
they would run
away from the
situation they
were in.
They would
see it as a
close shave,
a close escape,
but no.
They go right
back into the
heart of where
the trouble was
and they
proclaim the
Lord Jesus
as the way
to salvation.
salvation.
If we were
told today as
they were not
to teach the
Bible, not to
stand up for
the truth, not
to proclaim the
Lord as
Savior, what
would you do?
Who would you
be obedient to?
Would you have
the response of
Peter and the
apostles, we
must obey
God rather
than men?
If you say
yes to that,
what do you
say to every
command that
the Lord gives
to you?
Will you
stand up on
the side of
your Lord?
You say to
yourself, but
I'm not
qualified, I'm
not gifted.
And we look
around us and
we see some
great apologists,
defenders of
the faith,
gifted men and
women who are
able to express
themselves and
stand up for
the faith in
amazing ways.
Men like
John Lennox,
professor of
mathematics at
Oxford University,
he's able to
stand and
speak on the
side of Christ
in powerful
ways.
It doesn't
seem to matter
what question
comes at him,
he's got an
answer immediately
and you're
thinking to
yourself, if
only I could
do that.
Or Rosaria
Butterfield, an
American professor,
was an atheist
for so long and
amazingly saved by
the grace of
God and
now speaking
out on the
side of
Christ.
Powerful
speaker.
They come
under attack for
their faith, but
they will always
stand up for
their saviour
because they
have that
heart.
We must
obey God
rather than
men.
But just
because we're
not all gifted
or prominent
like these
people, just
because we
don't always
have all the
answers or
maybe we
don't even
know what
to say
at times,
God still
asks for
obedience
from us.
When the
angel came
to the
apostles here
in verse
20, the
angel said,
go and
stand in
the temple
and speak.
The angel
wasn't going
to speak the
message.
They were
to go.
They were
to speak.
And you
ask yourself,
how can I
witness for
the Lord?
If only I
could witness
for the
Lord in
this way.
Well, the
Lord calls
us to
obedience.
And we
can all
proclaim
the Lord.
In 1
Corinthians
11,
verse 24,
words no
doubt we'll
hear,
next Lord's
day God
willing.
It says
there,
this is my
body,
which is
for you.
Do this
in remembrance
of me.
In the
same way
also he
took the
cup after
supper,
saying,
this cup
is a
new covenant
in my
blood.
Do this
as often
as you
drink it
in remembrance
of me.
For as
often as
you eat
this bread
and drink
the cup,
you
proclaim
the Lord's
death
until he
comes.
You can
proclaim
God.
You don't
have to
be gifted
like John
Lennox or
Rosaria
Butterfield.
You don't
have to
have all
the answers,
yet you
can still
proclaim God
in a
powerful way.
How?
By eating
the bread
and drinking
the cup,
you proclaim
the Lord's
death
until he
comes.
You are
showing
your
obedience
to God
and not
men.
And in
so doing,
you will
provoke a
response.
A
response of
those around
you of
more
thankfulness.
A
response of
those around
you to
think maybe
of their
own salvation.
A
response to
others who
will maybe
rebuke you
and challenge
you.
But you
must obey
God and
not men.
Because it
will provoke
a response
from God.
A blessing
that follows
obedience.
An assurance.
A joy.
A comfort.
It will
stir up an
attack of
Satan, no
doubt as
well.
But God
will be with
you.
We were
reminded of
that this
morning.
proclaim
the Lord's
death
till he
comes.
Is there
any more
powerful
thing that
you can
do than
to show
you love
the Lord
with all
your heart
by being
obedient
in that?
Richard
Baxter
wrote a
hymn,
Lord,
it belongs
not to
my care.
I'm sure
many of
you have
heard the
last verse
quoted.
It's a
beautiful
verse,
reminds us
of what's
to come.
The last
verse says,
my knowledge
of that
life is
small,
the eye
of faith
is dim,
but tis
enough that
Christ knows
all,
and I
shall be
with him.
Beautiful
words of
what is
to come.
But how
does it
start?
The first
few verses
go like
this,
Lord,
it belongs
not to
my care,
whether
I die
or live.
To love
and serve
thee is
my share,
and this
thy grace
must give.
If life
be long,
I will
be glad
that I
may long
obey.
If short,
yet why
should I
be sad
to soar
to endless
day?
Christ
leads me
through no
darker rooms
than he
went through
before.
He that
to God's
kingdom
comes
must enter
by this
door.
The
blessing
that is
to be
with
him.
It
starts
by
obedience
to
him
now.
He
has
his
kingdom.
And
he that
to God's
kingdom
comes
must
enter
by this
door.
The
door
of
faith.
The
door
of
obedience.
The
door
of
trust.
As
we go
into
the
week
ahead
as we
go on
with all
that we've
heard today
this morning
and this
evening.
This
morning
there was
the invitation
come.
Come.
And this
evening
it's about
obey.
Be
obedient.
Trust
and obey.
For
there's no
other way
to be
happy in
Jesus
than to
trust
and
obey.
May he
help us
to come
and trust
and be
obedient
to him
that we
might know
his
wonderful
blessing.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
we rejoice
in your
gospel that
it is a
word to
all,
that there
is no
one who
is left
out of it,
young and
old,
men and
women,
boys and
girls.
It speaks
to each
one of
us and
it challenges
us to
come and
put our
trust in
you.
It
challenges
us to
obedience
to you,
to come
and do
this in
remembrance
of you.
And so
we thank
you,
Lord,
that it
is a
powerful
invitation
and
something
that
demands
our
obedience.
For
to say
no
or in
another
time is
to be
disobedient.
But
Lord,
we pray
that you
will help
us in
our
hearts
to hear
your
word
and to
know
your
spirit,
the one
that says
to come
to me.
Lord,
hear us
we pray
and forgive
us our
sins as
we ask
it all
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We'll
conclude by
singing to
God's praise
in Psalm
24 in
the Sing
Psalms.
Page 28
of the
Psalm
books.
Psalm 24
we'll
sing
from
verse 1
to
verse 6.
The
world
and all
in it
are
gods,
all
peoples
of the
earth,
for it
was
founded
by the
Lord
upon
the
seas
beneath.
And
verse 5,
he will
find
favour
from
the
Lord
and
from
his
saviour
grace.
Thus
are they
blessed,
O
Jacob's
God,
who
truly
seek
your
face.
We'll
sing
from
verse 1
to 6
to God's
praise,
and the
tune is
Jackson.
The
world
and all
in it
are
gods,
all
peoples
of
the
earth,
for
it
was
founded
by
the
Lord
upon
the
seas
beneath.
Who
may
ascend
the
hill
of
God
or
in
his
temple
stand,
the
one
who
shuns
false
gods
and
lies,
whose
pure
in
heart
and
land.
He
will
find
favour
from
the
Lord
and
from
the
Saviour
grace.
Thus
are
they
blessed,
O
Jacob's
God,
who
truly
seek
your
grace.
I should
have
intimated
earlier
the
YF
meets
tonight
as well.
That's
immediately
after the
service and
that's
going to
be up at
the
Francis
Street
Mance.
You'll
hear from
James and
Donna about
their life
in
ministry,
so young
folks are
invited up
there
just now.
After the
benediction,
I'll go to
the door to
my right
here.
We'll
close with
the
benediction.
Now may
grace,
mercy,
and peace
from God,
Father,
Son,
and Holy
Spirit rest
upon and
abide with
you all
now and
forevermore.
Amen.
Thank you.