Good morning Family!
I wish I had thought of this when we were talking about Acts chapter 3, but alas it only came to me as I was thinking back through it again Monday. Last week, as we encountered Peter and John on the way to the Temple, healing a lame beggar in the name of Jesus, I asked you what small step of obedience you could take this past week. What is your next step toward Jesus? Small or large. As Peter and John walked in the power of the Spirit, how can we step closer to that goal?
The problem is that I missed the opportunity to quote Neil Armstrong as he and his crew became the first people to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. As he bounced around awkwardly, he famously said; "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
What a failure that was, because I think it sums up our life as disciples pretty well. These giant leaps of God’s Spirit happen as we take our small steps of obedience. As we step out in faith, even the smallest amount, God meets us with His Spirit and changes everything.
The great movement of God’s people is measured in small, purpose-filled steps of faithfulness. So my hope here at Mountainside is that we would be walking together after Jesus. That we would be walking together intentionally in our communities. That Heaven would overlap Earth as we walk out our faith step by step.
But that was last week.
This week, we’re picking up where we left off in Acts chapter 4. Peter and John find themselves in front of the chief priests as a result of this healing miracle. Peter gives his defense of the gospel and now the religious elite must deliberate and figure out what they are going to do with these men. They can’t arrest them or beat them because that would cause an uproar with the crowds. They can’t deny what has happened, the miracle is obvious to all. So all they can really do is tell them to stop. But as with my children, that doesn’t really work out to well for them.
“18 They called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)
We can’t help but speak.
We can’t stop.
We won’t stop.
I am reminded of two stories. The first is of the triumphal entry which will be celebrated in churches across the world in just a few short weeks as we head into the holy week of Easter. Jesus enters into Jerusalem in the final week of His life preceding the crucifixion as a king would enter during times of peace, not on a majestic war horse, but on a humble donkey, a colt the foal of a donkey. Signifying that Jesus was the one they were waiting for, He is indeed king, but He would not be the type of king they expected or perhaps even desired. His kingdom is not of this world and instead of a war on the oppressive powers of the Earth, His conquest would be against the grave–against death itself. Reconciling us all to God once and for all.
We read in Luke 19, “36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”... “If these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
You can almost hear these words echo in Peter and John as they stand before perhaps some of the same religious leaders. Whether it is right or not, you’ll have to judge for yourself, but these people cannot stop praising me. The king will get His honor. And even if they were to stop, the rocks themselves would rise up in a deafening chorus. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; Who was and is and is to come. Hosanna in the highest! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven! Praises be to His holy name!
The very rocks will rise up and sing if we keep this message hidden within us.
Now, this could just be a powerful metaphor, suggesting that even inanimate objects would praise Jesus if people were silent. That there is an inevitability to the praises of God. Jesus will be glorified one way or another.
Some of you were alive in the 70s so you’ll remember this. Although maybe not, if you were alive in the 70s, there’s also plenty of reasons you may not remember this. People would buy pet rocks. They were sold in cardboard boxes with holes drilled in them with a paper bedding nest for them to sit in, you know so they would be comfortable I guess. People bought these and gave them as presents to each other. They literally spent 4 or 5 dollars on plain, old, ordinary dumb rocks. And I mean dumb clinically. They don’t have mouths. They don’t have faces. They can’t speak. And yet Jesus will receive praise. It is inevitable. Jesus could have been talking about good ol’ Mordacai’s pet rock.
However, if we were to stand in this exact spot in Jerusalem, there is open to us another possible interpretation. Between the Mount of Olives and the Eastern gate of the Temple, where Jesus was riding there is a massive cemetery full of the gravestones of the dead. Jesus could just as easily have had specific stones in His mind as He made this declaration to the Pharisees. Don’t stop these people, or else the dead around you will rise up in their place.
A few days following this event, the voice of the people would fall silent. Even Jesus’ own followers would scatter and leave Him as it was prophesied in Zechariah 13:7, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered".
The voice of the people would falter. And what happens as Jesus is crucified? In that moment, “50 [as] Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” Matthew says, “51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:50-53)
As the people fall silent the stones rise up. The dead rise up and declare the praises of God!
Oh that our voices would not fall silent and let the rocks declare in our place that Jesus is Lord!
We can’t stop! We won’t stop!
The other story I am reminded of as I read about the apostles’ boldness in Acts 4 is from the book of Jeremiah. I guess it’s not really a story, but a prayer of Jeremiah’s as he cries out his laments to the Father.
He says, “7 O Lord, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me. 8 When I speak, the words burst out. “Violence and destruction!” I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke.”
Jeremiahs’ not very happy with God at this point. His life as a prophet, speaking God’s word has not brought him fame and fortune–not that he expected that. But he also often found himself in extreme discomfort, suffering even. Who would have thought that proclaiming God’s judgement against the nations, especially his own nation, would not be met with favor by the rebellious people. Peter and John, like Jeremiah, are not praised by the religious for even the gift of a miracle–doing good gets them no pat on the back.
In fact, read through the New Testament, miracles never work out too well for the ones who perform them. It typically lands them in trouble with the Law, beaten, threatened, and mistreated. But even so, they can’t help but to keep speaking.
Likewise, Jeremiah continues in his lament, “9 If I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in His name, His word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” (Jeremiah 20:7-9)
I’ve experienced this to some degree, perhaps you have as well. Everytime Jenny tells me what someone wrote on Social Media or who liked some off-the-wall ramblings of a so-called “de-constructed” Christian. My chest burns like it is filled with hot coals.
When I overhear a conversation at the gym about a prayer service taking place at the Schaffer Center and an employee comments to their friends, “nobody wants to come to your stupid event anyway!” Or when I hear the ignorant hypocrisy of a generation that feels themselves to be morally superior, yet only proves they are superiourly arrogant.
There is a fire burning within me. And too often I keep silent. I keep silent about the things that really matter and instead engage in the controversies that are of little consequence. And here is the dilemma.
What is helpful and what is not? If it’s your opinion rather than God’s gospel truth, then feel free to keep it to yourself. That’s not going to be helpful. Even if you’re right in your opinion, the point’s not to prove yourself right.
Proverbs 16 “27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze. 28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.”
In those moments, what we must not do is indulge our own pride and opinions so as to further cause controversy.
If it’s sharing love and encouraging people toward Jesus, by all means speak openly. Speak freely. In fact, don’t stop speaking.
I’ll put it even further, if it means defending the faith with hard conversations with people you care about. Please speak up. Do it with a humble and tender heart, but please do not remain silent. If it’s to pray for someone, share the gospel with someone, or invite someone to come and see Jesus–you can’t keep that stuff in. Don’t let fear paralyze you. Don’t let your reputation get in the way. Pour it out–as a poured out offering–at the feet of Jesus.
What we must do is allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit as we wrestle within our own hearts. What can I say without sowing strife, and how should I say it, and when and where, and to whom?
Don’t shrink back from your defense of the faith. From speaking about Jesus. Sow that seed liberally. Be a bad farmer. Several of us, I know, have heard that parable of the sower interpreted in this way. And the encouragement is true and valid. Go out and be a bad farmer who doesn't care where the seed of the Word of God falls. Overseed the soil around you. Let His word seep out of you and land on everyone you encounter.
…
And don’t feel like you have to have all the answers.
Here, let’s go down this rabbit hole for a few minutes. What common objections do people have to Christianity or God in general? (Listen and acknowledge)
Here are some of the five most common objections people have to the God of the Bible.
1. If God created the universe, who created God? There’s no evidence for God.
2. If God is a good God, how can He allow so much suffering and evil in the world?
3. If there's a hell, why would a loving God send people there?
4. Being a good person is all that really matters. Morality is relative after all.
5. How can you claim that Jesus is the only way to God? With all the religions in the world, how can you be so arrogant as to claim to have the right one?
Let’s really quickly run through these objections, even just at a high level.
First objection: there is no evidence of God.
One of the first things we have to understand is when someone questions God, it might mean that God is pulling at their hearts. And the more resistant they are, the stronger He may be pulling.
There will also not be a good enough answer to any of these questions so as to satisfy someone intent on disbelief without the intervention of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Some people just like to argue.
What I can say is that there is a wealth of evidence, an overwhelming amount of evidence to believe in God and the transcendence of the spiritual world. I don’t have time to go through most of it, but you could probably find a Lee Stroble video on YouTube if that interests you.
There is a wealth of historical evidence, archeological evidence. Did you know for example that for many years historians did not believe the Hittites existed. This is a people group mentioned in the Bible many times. They said there is no evidence for this people group or that they ever existed therefore the Bible is false–boom roasted.
There is now so much archaeological and historic evidence for the Hittites that you could major in Hittite studies if you were so inclined. Personally, I’m going to pass. At every turn history and archaeology has proven that what the Bible says is true, and while that doesn’t prove God exists it contributes to the reliability of the Bible.
If the Bible is reliable and then to be believed we have a plethora of eyewitness testimony to confirm God’s existence. Afterall, there are practically no critical historians who believe Jesus wasn’t a real person, who really lived, and was really crucified. What they doubt is the resurrection, not Jesus’ existence.
There is also logical evidence to prove the existence of God. One of my favorite uses the illustration of a garden. We don’t happen upon a garden and think to ourselves. Wow, how beautifully complex this world is that a perfect storm of just the right circumstances came together–the right sun exposure for the correct length of time, favorable wind and weather patterns to sculpt these hedges in just this right way, a perfect balanced pH. No, we think, where's the gardener who did all this work?!
The world is so beautifully complex, well-balanced, and fine-tuned that we stare into the wonder and can’t help but think that creation has a Creator.
At the end of the day God is Spirit, and is just one of the many many things that science can’t measure in their microscopes. Some things really do require faith and hope. And “what is life without hope? Faith is believing there is hope beyond what you can see. Some of the most courageous people who have ever lived have been so because they clung to their faith. They faced incredible obstacles because God gave them strength to do so. They were not in denial… but found hope… through Christ.”
Another assertion is that a good God cannot exist because there is so much evil and suffering in the world.
I remember hearing Stephen Fry, the great British comedic actor, respond, “Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid god who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?"
This is indeed the hardest of all to wrestle with especially as many of us have experienced great suffering. And the Biblical response is hope for the future, trust in the goodness of God, and even to wrestle with God if you must and not against God.
Jeremiah was in the same boat as He wrestled with God for all his suffering. Jonah, and David, and many other characters as well who felt the sting of great suffering.
This certainly doesn't disprove God’s existence. To even make this statement the objector has to presuppose that ultimate good and evil exist to weigh God against, rather than just their own ideas of what good should be. You can’t just say, “I personally don’t like what I see in the world and therefore a good God cannot exist.” There has to be an ultimate objective good to measure against. Biblically speaking we call that God. So it’s hard to wrestle with, but the argument really proves God rather than disproves.
In fact, I would say that Christianity actually provides the best answer to human suffering. Much better than the atheist, and better than any other religion that exists.
Along the same lines someone might say how can a good God send good people to Hell.
“Atheist author Jean-Paul Sartre noted that the gates of hell are locked from the inside by the free choice of men and women. The sad fact is, many will make the decision not to be a part of God’s heaven. God won’t send them to hell; they’ll send themselves. For God to force people to go to heaven against their wishes wouldn’t be heaven—it would be hell.”
God does not force Himself upon anyone. It deeply grieves God the Bible says, but He respects our decisions to reject Him. The beauty of Heaven is the presence of God. And so God would not inflict His eternal presence on someone who has spent their entire lives denying it.
A popular belief today is that we don’t need God. All that matters is being a good person. Morality is relative. Do what you think feels good and follow your heart.
This one is strongly held but easily argued against. It quickly falls apart just by asking questions like, “Is murder universally wrong? Is rape bad? Are there not objectively terrible things in this world? Are they bad because we agree that they are bad or are they still bad even if some or most of the world could be convinced as to the opposite?”
If there are objectively bad things in this world that are not morally neutral then the most obvious explanation is that there is a moral God who sets the standard for moral good and has inscribed this law onto the hearts of His creation. We need this God.
Most of the gods that people say they don’t believe in. I don’t believe in either. But the God we’re presented with in the Bible is living and active, and my soul desperately needs Him!
Perhaps the most pervasive and long standing argument is what’s the difference? All paths lead to God anyway. All religions are the same.
Some of you may even be tempted to fall into this belief. A study released just a few years ago found that “over 60% of [evangelical] Christians believe that Jesus is not the only way to Heaven.”
This was a strongly held belief in the Roman world as well. It was in fact part of their policy in conquering the world. You can believe whatever you want, and worship whichever gods you would like, just so long as you submit to the rule that Caesar is Lord over all.
Peter combats this same belief as he gives his own defense of the gospel and unequivocally asserts that, “12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
I mean, just think about it. If all paths lead to God and God knows that then Jesus suffered for nothing.
There are many very well-meaning people out there who believe this to be the most accommodating and accepting viewpoint. They’ll slap on their tolerance bumper stickers and be offended that you could be so narrow minded.
I don’t know if you’ve ever thought much about this, but do you know what you have to believe to say that all paths lead to God? What you actually have to believe. Because here’s the thing, every religion has an exclusive claim on truth. Everyone. Every person has exclusivity in their belief system. That’s something like 90% of the world who believe you can worship other gods but that’s not going to get you to whatever their version of Heaven is. So to say all paths lead to God you have to believe that the majority of the world is wrong, but you and your 10% or whatever it may be of enlightened thinkers are the ones who are actually correct.
That seems to me to be a much more arrogant position, to believe that the majority of the world is wrong but you alone are right.
It seems much more humble to me to believe in a God that I didn’t think of and to trust that this omnipotent Creator knows a bit more than I do.
But guess what.
You don’t have to remember a single thing I just said because it’s perfectly acceptable to tell someone who has one of these objections, “You know what, that’s a great question. I really wish I had a good answer for you. Would you mind if I went and asked someone who has thought about that a lot more than I have? Then, can we talk about this over coffee next week?”
Most people you’ll talk to probably won’t have thought much about these either. They’ll have a much more unprepared reason for why they're not a believer. So you don’t need to worry. You just need boldness and faith that the God of the universe empowering you by the power of His Spirit can give you exactly what you need to say, even if it’s not a well thought out defense.
You don’t have to have a degree in theology and apologetics. The chief priests noted about Peter and John that “they were ordinary men with no special training.” (Acts 4:13) That’s you! And that’s me. All that we need is the Spirit in us to make us bold.
“23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God…” They prayed, “29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
They didn’t shrink back, but they pressed in. They said Lord give us more of that. More of your Spirit. More of your blessing. More boldness to speak your Word.
They pray to the God who knows all things. No world event has taken Him by surprise. Likewise, nothing in your life and no conversation or interaction you will have with anyone is hidden from Him.
They pray give us boldness. Hear their threats and give us boldness. Not hear their threats and stop them. This is not a Davidic prayer for their enemies to be meet their downfall. This is their hearts faw before the Father. You hear these threats? You see what’s happening? May we meet it with boldness. Don’t let our witness falter. Don’t let our courage fail.
Give us boldness. Show up and more in powerful ways, in the name of Jesus that these people may know, and knowing they may believe. "Believe in the name of Jesus for salvation unto all people"! For there is no other name on Earth below or in Heaven by which man may call and find saving grace.
Don’t let yourself be stopped from sharing the greatest gift of all time with those whom we claim to care so much about. Don’t stop. Don’t hold out. Don’t be prevented from doing good.
But as it says in Colossians 4:2-4, “2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Paul says, “3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.”
Pray for boldness. Pray for each other. Pray that the witness won’t stop. And if you’re thinking to yourself geeze, I’ve never really started. Pray for God to kickstart your heart. We need the Spirit of God to come and move in a powerful way.
God we ask that you would provide this fire in our bones as we lift our voices in passionate praise to you this morning…
“31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
Pray for boldness.
Never stop telling about Jesus.
Let’s pray. “Father, thank You for Your Word, which stands firm and endures forever. Thank You for the powerful witness of [the apostle Peter] and the example of boldness You’ve given through them. Let Your Word burn within us like a fire shut up in our bones—a flame that cannot be contained. Kindle this fire in our hearts, making them a place for Your Spirit to blaze with a passionate love for You and a steadfast desire to do Your will. Grant us the courage to share Your truth with grace, boldness, and deep humility. We ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.”
“I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do, and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.’ But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: ‘Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is…’” (Psalm 39:1-4).
Resources (*the views expressed within the following content are solely the author's and may not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Mountainside Church):
https://summitchurch.com/series/sent-acts
https://ehyde.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/top-10-most-common-atheist-arguments-and-why-they-fail/
https://thewarriorsjourney.org/ethos/10-objections-christianity-respond/
http://veritas-ucsb.org/faq/top10.html
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/confronting-christianity
https://seedbed.com/the-word-of-god-is-like-a-fire-in-our-hearts-and-in-our-bones/
https://scripturecomesto.life/blog/fire-in-the-bones
https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-God-Arguments-History-Philosophy/dp/0801072603https://www.bcworldview.org/christians-believe-muhammad-is-in-heaven/#:~:text=Over%2060%25%20of%20born%2Dagain,beliefs%20do%20not%20follow%20Scripture.
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